Cobranoid - Cobranoid (Album Review)

Release Date: August 18th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Cobranoid: Tracklisting

1.Flesh And Bone 03:48

2.Shimmer 04:54

3.Halfwit 05:12

4.N.E.S. 05:53

5.Doom Shark 05:07

6.Hyena 04:38

Members

Kyle Gaso - Guitar/Vocals

Logan O’Connor - Bass

Kevin Wylie - Drums

Review

Thrash/Doom/Speed Metallers Cobranoid make a barnstorming and aggressive entrance with their excellent self-titled debut release. Merging heavy slabs of Doom Metal that High On Fire are known for with the fast-paced delivery of Motorhead but with the added bonus of Thrash Metal all moulded within the classic Power Trio formation. 

One of our team here at the blog S Patrick Brooks has been telling me about this great band for the last few weeks and I said I would check them out. And BOY, wasn’t he right with this one. 

The one thing that makes this record standout is how gloriously FUN the whole thing is. You can tell the band are having fun playing their own blend of Speed Metal with the added bonus of Doom, Thrash and good old fashioned RAWK Music. Cobranoid play classic sounding THRASH beats like their lives depended on it especially within the sublime opening tracks of Flesh And Bone and Shimmer. 

Cobranoid adds a sludgy backdrop especially through Logan O’Connor’s excellent bass with Kyle Gaso demonstrating some fine THIN LIZZY guitar riff worship along the way. Kevin Wylie is just in pure BEAST MODE behind the drums which gives Cobranoid a true Heavy Metal sound whilst cornering the finer points of their Doom Metal sound. 

The lyrics can be quite subversive and politically charged, especially on the excellent third track of Halfwit. There’s a standout instrumental section which ranks as one of the best throughout the whole record even if it's not the heaviest. Cobranoid are at their most daring and more expressive as this song becomes heavier and heavier with each passing moment. The onslaught of aggressive Thrash Metal sounds that merges with Classic Hard Rock energy is something I didn’t expect how the song would end up.

Fourth track N.E.S. is rages into pure High On Fire territory but in a good way with Cobranoid installing a slight Psychedelic flavour which allows a primal Thrash Metal sound to fully lead the creative charge with a fine amount of instrumental sounds transforming into a Psych Doom movement. Kyle’s vocals are excellent with the perfect balance of Heavy Metal bravado whilst keeping with the appearance of classic Heavy Metal. The music is perhaps the star yet again with Cobranoid demonstrating a keen ear for melody along the way.

The final two tracks of Doom Shark and Hyena are the most action packed tracks on the record with Cobranoid playing their great style of combined Heavy Metal sounds with the Classic Hard Rock atmosphere allowing the “FUN” aspect of their record that I mentioned earlier in the review to be continuously part of the whole ride. The lyrics are quite subtle and perhaps self aware at times but it makes this such a downright thrilling spectacle of Heavy Metal sounds.

Cobranoid are busy at work for their second record due for release in 2025 and I have a feeling that the band will have a loyal and dedicated fanbase within the Doom/Sludge Metal underground scene thanks to this excellent debut release. 

Don’t let this record pass you by. The underground scene once in a while provides the world with a great band to fully get behind and fully root for. Well, Cobranoid are that type of band and this album is a must have release. So what are you waiting for. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Details About Doom Metallers COBRANOID Upcoming Debut Album

Cobranoid has their first album coming out on Friday August 16th 2024 and I am so stoked for these guys. A hard-working Denver band, they have been honing their songwriting and performance skills for the last few years on the excellent Denver Stoner Doom scene, making a name for themselves and making new fans each time they hit the stage. I've seen Cobranoid quite a few times over the last few years. These guys always bring so much energy to their live performances. They are a straight forward, hard rocking, speed doom (their term) metal-as-fuck band. a powerful power trio, they literally make you feel the rock pounding through your chest when you're in the crowd. Now, finally, they have brought this powerful mix to the studio. Turn this up and check out some Cobranoid!

Cobranoid is Kyle McKeeman (vocals, guitar) Logan O'Connor on bass and Kevin Wylie on drums. These guys generously shared 3 tracks from their upcoming album and damn, all three are absolute high energy rippers. Here's my thoughts on the tracks:

NES. I'm immediately thinking damn. Heavy as FUCK. Kyle's vocals are raw and this song was recorded with a lot of intense energy. It starts off with a punch before a quick descent into heartfelt guitar riff and followed with sorrowful feeling harsh vocals. This song feels wonderfully dramatic and would perhaps be the epitome of what Cobranoid means by calling themselves "Speed Doom". Great heavy tone. Doomy but not oppressive. the drums are sharp and I like where they sit in the mix, providing excellent depth to this track in particular. it's a ripper, a super fun ride!

Flesh and Bone is the first single that has been released. Speed doom indeed! Crunchy guitars, pounding drums and deep bass propelled by semi growly vocals. Flesh and Bone is super hard driving, crushing METAL. This song is seriously metal as fuck, with a growl along chorus, headbanging riffs and guttural deep fills from both guitar and drums. Like so many great songs in this genre, Flesh and Bone gives one that Mad Max apocalyptic feel...more Road Warrior than Furiosa, this is gritty number and has a flashbacky, sepia toned feel to it. It's hot and raw and gritty.

 

Cobranoid describes themselves as Speed Doom and it's fitting. Their sound is reminiscent of High on Fire; Cobranoid blazes a galloping trail of riffs, charging forward straight into the void. The introspective interlude shows some maturing songwriting skills an adds inserting drama to what is a already complex track. There is story telling amongst the heavy riffs and this is a moody, horror driven doom song. Faster riffs kick in at the end of Flesh, the speed in speed doom prevailing as the song breaks from the darkness and runs off into a more trashy riff driven finale. It's a pretty amazing 6 minutes, seeming both longer and shorter than that time - in a way that makes me want to put it on repeat.

The last track I got to hear was Hyena. Hyena howls, mofos! It's a hard, straight up kick-your-ass rocker here y'all. I love the heavy heavy kick ass drumming on this one. Kyle's galloping guitars and bass and tough sounding vocals once again set a hard rocking tone. This stuff right here is battle jackets and engineer boots my friends. This is hard Denver rock that doesn't fuck around. Consider doing some yoga neck stretches before this little ditty cause your head with be rocking. Kyle's guitar tone hear is amazing. The recording captures the intensity of the amplification, and is mixed very well, showcasing all the players and placing the vocals in the proper place in the presentation.

This band has just gotten better and better since I saw them a few years ago. The first time I saw Cobranoid live they played a dirty version of Just Got Paid Today (ZZ Top). They reminded me of Wo Fat a little bit. Maybe I just felt like that after hearing them cover that song and it skewed my perception. These songs sound different in a great way. More thrashy and traditionally metal than I remember seeing them (just my opinion of course) and I love it. These songs are rippers, and I encourage everyone to check out the new single and definitely get this album on pre-order.

Words by S Patrick Brooks

https://cobranoid.bandcamp.com/track/flesh-and-bone