Release Date: February 28th 2025. Record Label: Prophecy Productions. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Year Of The Cobra - Track Listing:
1.Full Sails
2.War Drop
3.Daemonium
4.Alone
5.7 Years
6.The Darkness
7.Sleep
8.Prayer
Members
Amy Tung Barrysmith – vocals, bass, keyboards
Jon Barrysmith – drums
Review
Doom/Stoner Metallers Year Of The Cobra (YOTC) return after a six year absence with their third full length album and it sees the band head even further into the LOW & SLOW abyss with Amy Tung Barrysmith’s intense bass guitar and Jon Barrysmith’s aggressive drums. The album sees the band conjure up destructive grooves and even with the lack of guitars, Year Of The Cobra play with a sense of reckless melody which sees subtle Psychedelic passages to form. Amy has spent time recently with SLOWER (the band made up of members of KYLESA, FU MANCHU and MONOLORD) but these are the real jams where she always shines with her husband and partner in crime Jon Barrysmith.
With the band being from Seattle, it’s good to see the band opting for less is more approach and add a classic sense of Grunge and Alternative Rock along the way. This allows Amy the perfect opportunity to deliver some fabulous vocals which moves away from the Doom and Stoner Rock structure and perhaps into areas of definitive Hard Rock energy. Though, YOTC never forget their underground roots with a stunning assortment of head pounding Drum and Bass grooves which feels like you’re being hit by a mighty sledgehammer when the heavy notes hit and BOY, do they hit the target each and every single time.
The album is boosted by a stunning collection of outstanding tracks which each have their own identity and story to tell with a classic Doom/Stoner energy coming from every corner. The music is a mixture of fast-paced grooves and the low-to-mid pace sound which allows YOTC to play a classic blend of LOW & SLOW movements which crackles with genuine excitement when the sludgy reverb of the seedy amplifiers takes centre stage.
Some of the tracks are quite bleak and wonderfully dark with Amy’s vocals not having a care in the world at times especially on tracks such as: Full Sails, War Drop, Alone and The Darkness. Though, there is still a deeply emotional core that holds everything together which sees YOTC develop into better songwriters and storytellers which is provided here.
The later stages of the record perfectly moves between the levels of Psych, Doom, Grunge and Stoner Metal for a more focused Sludge Rock sound with an unexpected Shoegaze energy forming which once again shows a different side to Year Of The Cobra.
YOTC worked with the legendary Matt Bayles on this record who engineered, mixed and produced the album. The amazing Brad Boatright helped with mastering duties at his famed Audiosiege domain. This allows Year Of The Cobra to create a highly cinematic vision of music of their own making. Furthermore, Year Of The Cobra have firmly established themselves as one of the standout and original musical duo’s within the underground scene today.
Be prepared for a brilliantly heavy record that pulls no punches and will no doubt be classed as one of 2025’s finest records before the year is out.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Prophecy Productions for the promo.
Year Of The Cobra will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Prophecy Productions from Friday 28th February 2025.
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