Year Of The Cobra - Year Of The Cobra (Album Review)

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.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Doom/Stoner Metallers YEAR OF THE COBRA reveal first video single 'War Drop' and details of self-titled new album "Year of the Cobra"

YEAR OF THE COBRA premiere the video 'War Drop' as the first single taken from their forthcoming new full-length. "Year of the Cobra", the third album of Seattle's doom sludge duo has been slated for release on February 28, 2025.

You can hear/watch the new single/video for WAR DROP below:

YEAR OF THE COBRA comment: "​​The track 'War Drop' was the last song that we recorded with Matt Bayles", vocalist and bass player Amy Barrysmith explains. "I honestly did not think that it was going to make the album when we were listening to it as a demo. After Matt had worked his genius, we ended up choosing it to be our first single. It's funny how things work out sometimes. I like this song because it has a little unexpected time change and I love nerding out on things like that."

Tracklist

1. Full Sails

2. War Drop

3. Daemonium

4. Alone

5. 7 Years

6. The Darkness

7. The Sleep

8. Prayer

Guitars, who needs guitars in heavy music? At least YEAR OF THE COBRA can happily do without the ones that have only thin strings and are mostly good for fiddling around. Vocalist Amy Tung Barrysmith gets a massive groove and lush heaviness out of her bass, which is more than enough to fuel the booming twin engine made from doom metal and psychedelic sludge that drives their self-titled third full-length.

"Year of the Cobra" has clearly grown out of its two forerunners "...in the Shadows Below" (2016) and "Ash and Dust" (2019), but it also surpasses them. YEAR OF THE COBRA have honed their songwriting, which is more to the point, and produces catchy yet super heavy tunes that are tailor-made to fit the band's strongest aspects. Amy Tung Barrysmith's rich alto and the seamless rhythmical rapport between her bass lines and Jon Barrysmith's emotive drumming come to the fore.

YEAR OF THE COBRA were formed in Seattle in 2015, although the two musicians had already met at a Halloween gig in 2007 where they played in different bands. They started talking a little later and discovered a mutual liking for ultra-heavy music. Originally, the duo planned to bring in a guitarist but soon found that things worked well without one. What started out as a little side project with some jamming on special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries, slowly but inevitably grew into a band – although that had never been the intention.

While duo acts such as BÖLZER and MANTAR had started to grow in popularity, YEAR OF THE COBRA had to carve out their own niche, which they did with deceptively seeming ease. They created a sound that effortlessly ranged from classic doom melancholy to oppressively heavy riff architectures. YEAR OF THE COBRA went on to transform catchy, almost upbeat rock moments into swirling psychedelia. After setting an exclamation mark behind their name mainly in the US with the debut full-length "...in the Shadows Below", the duo went on to establish their brand internationally with the sophomore album "Ash and Dust".

With the ground firmly prepared, YEAR OF THE COBRA are ready for the next step as their self-titled third full-length irrefutably proves. The super heavy "Year of the Cobra" gets her fangs into the ears and won't let go. Heads are forced to bang, but hey – what could be more fun?

Band: Year of the CobraAlbum title: Year of the Cobra
Release date: February 28, 2025
Style: Doom & Sludge Metal
Label: Prophecy Productions
Review Impact Date: January 27, 2025

Line-up

Amy Tung Barrysmith – vocals, bass, keyboards
Johanes Barrysmith – drums

Produced & engineered by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA (US)
Mixing by Matt Bayles at The Red Room, Seattle, WA (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, Portland, OR (US)

Links

www.facebook.com/yearofthecobraband
www.instagram.com/yearofthecobra

Available formats

"Year of the Cobra" is available Digipak CD, as a black vinyl LP, as a crystal clear vinyl LP, and as a smokey marbled vinyl LP.

Shop - http://lnk.spkr.media/year-of-the-cobra-yotc

Thanks to Prophecy Productions for all of the details.

Heavy supergroup SLOWER (w/ members of Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Kylesa, Lowrider, Monolord, Year of the Cobra) sign to Heavy Psych Sounds Records

Heavy Psych Sounds Records sign SLOWER — the brand new project "playing Slayer slow and low" with members of Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Kylesa, Monolord, Lowrider and Year Of The Cobra — for the release of their debut album in early 2024!

About this collaborative project between major players from the international stoner and doom scene, Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch says:

“The idea for the SLOWER project started around four years ago. I was teaching a student how to play “South Of Heaven” by SLAYER but she was a beginner so we slowed it down. I thought that sounded cool so I tuned down to B standard and tried it. I added some drums and thought “someone in the doom community should do this and name it SLOWER.”

A few years later I befriended Steven “Thee Slayer Hippy” Hanford, best known for his work as the drummer in the influential Oregon punk band Poison Idea. He was backstage at a FU MANCHU show. Oddly enough I was wearing a POISON IDEA shirt and he told me that my shirt sucks. I asked who he was and why he was in our backstage. He told me and I felt stupid. We started drinking whiskey and talking about music. We stayed in touch over the next year or so and during Covid I told him about my SLOWER idea. He asked me to send him tracks. I waited too long because the day I sent the tracks he passed away. Totally tragic. I’m glad I got to know him even for a few years. He was a monster musician with a giant heart. He will be greatly missed.

I shelved the project for a while after that. One day Esben from MONOLORD posted about musical collaborations. I love MONOLORD so I thought what the hell. I sent him some tracks and he killed it on drums. So I sent more. Then more. Shortly after that, we started reaching out to other musicians to get them involved. That’s how we ended up with this lineup. Everyone that contributed completely knocked it out of the park and I can’t thank them enough.

This project has been a long time coming and I’m beyond stoked on how it turned out. Without all of the players involved, Steven Hanford and my baritone Reverend guitar it wouldn’t have happened. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope you dig it! I’m a giant SLAYER fan so it’s been a treat to dig into these classic songs. Hopefully, we can do another record in the near future.

Look out for shows because they will happen!”

First track and preorder coming on October 31st on www.heavypsychsounds.com, stay tuned!

SLOWER is:

Esben Willems (drums) Monolord
Peder Bergstrand (bass) Lowrider
Amy Barrysmith (vocals) Year of the Cobra
Laura Pleasants (vocals) Kylesa
Bob Balch (guitars) Fu Manchu
Scott Reeder (bass) Kyuss

SLOWER on Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

Year Of The Cobra - Ash And Dust (Album Review)

Release date: November 01^st 2019. Label: Prophecy Productions. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ash And Dust – Tracklisting

1.The Battle Of White Mountain

2.The Divine

3.Ash And Dust

4.Demons

5.Into The Fray

6.At The Edge

7.Dark Swan

8.In Despair

Members

Amy Tung Barrysmith (vocals/ bass)

Jon Barrysmith (drums)

Review

Year Of The Cobra return with their new album Ash And Dust. This sees the band further explore their Doom Rock sound with the band adding a heavier mix of Sludge and Stoner Rock into the mix. The album is way atmospheric that I expected it to be and has a cool sounding hazy psychedelic atmosphere going on.

Opening song – The Battle Of White Mountain – is the longest song on the album running past the seven-minute mark and it’s a great song to open the album with. As it shows YOTC are in a more reflective and heavier mood compared to previous releases. The music starts off rather slowly with Amy’s pounding bass guitar and immense vocals laying down the groundwork for the gloomy atmosphere to appear and fully take over. The song immediately become heavier when Jon adapts a more aggressive style of drumming. The song effortlessly moves from a wide range of different sounds but still holding the listener’s full attention from start to finish.

Second song – The Divine – is a more Doom Rock/Metal song with flashes of Psychedelic Rock being added. Amy’s vocals are excellent as always with a slight gothic/occult doom twinge. The music does all of the talking for the band with heavy sounding grooves being less direct than the opening song. Though the grunge based Doom/Stoner riffs are never too far behind.

Third song – Ash And Dust – is a more Punk driven song with the band still retaining their Doom Metal identity. This song has a more experimental Punk Rock feel and it’s quite a frantic style of music to hear from the band. It’s quite catchy in places especially with the vocals and lyrics taking a more sinister and threatening turn compared to other songs on the album.

Fourth song – Demons – sees Amy in fine sultry form with her devilish laid-back vocals being the main focus of this song. The song is mainly a slowly played almost Occult Doom Rock song with the band taking their time bringing their heavy sounds to the party. Jon’s drumming may seem less visible on this song but you can feel Jon’s drumming driving the main narrative of this song with the creepy psychedelic sounds adding a more claustrophobic edge to the overall feel of the album.

The second half of the album continues with the gloomy and heavy sounds with the songs Into The Fray and Dark Swan being possibly the best two songs held on the whole album. As YOTC write some of the best lyrics and music on the album. The second half possibly isn’t as heavy as the first half but this doesn’t stop the band showing how they’ve grown and improved as musicians since their acclaimed debut release.

Ash And Dust is without doubt YOTC’s best album so far. It’s quite a progressive and forward thinking album compared to their previous releases and will no doubt allow YOTC to enhance their reputation further within the Hard Rock/Metal community

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Austin at Secret Service Publicity for the promo. Ash And Dust Arise is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via ProphecyProductions.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Year Of The Cobra - Burn Your Dead (EP Review)

Release date: October 27th 2017. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Burn Your Dead - Tracklisting

1.Cold 06:23

2.The Descent 04:30

3.Burn Your Dead 04:00

4.The Howl 06:45

5.And They Sang... 03:52

Members

Amy: Vocals + Bass + Keys

Jon: Drums

Review

Seattle Doom Duo - Year Of The Cobra (YOTC) return with another earthly doom driven EP. Burn Your Dead carries on where their spellbinding debut album left off. With the band creating bass driven riffs. The overall tone of the EP is quite gloomy and atmospheric in parts. Amy's vocals have a more blues rock appeal but the music is still gloomy and heavy throughout.

Opening track - Cold - starts very slowly but soon gathers pace with a haunting piano being played along with Jon & Amy's drum and bass sound. The gloomy soundclips offer a different doom perspective to the band's overall sound. Partially psychedelic at times as the song races to an exciting creepy finish.

Second track - The Descent - starts slowly again with a cool and cold sounding instrumental sound before YOTC turn up the volume with a bass-heavy doom style sound. Amy's vocals are impressive again, as she creates a nineties sounding alt-rock/doom/gothic sound.

Third track - Burn Your Dead - sees YOTC - play a faster style of doom and sludge rock. It has a more experimental punk rock atmosphere with the vocals being less restrained than the other tracks on the EP. The final two songs - The Howl & And They Sang... - sees YOTC expanding their musical range yet again. With different sounds being played and merged into a more settled doom rock/metal rhythm.

It's good to see YOTC creating songs with their individual feel and identity. All of the songs sound very different to each other. The Howl is perhaps the standout track on the EP. As YOTC combine vintage seventies doomy riffs with a familiar and modern sounding grunge vibe.

Overall, YOTC have excelled themselves yet again with this EP. It's a fantastic sounding EP that sees the band experiment with their sound and I'm kinda excited to see where the band goes from here. I applaud the band for using different sounds and vocals on this EP. 

Burn Your Dead is a superb release and will no doubt go down a storm with their established fanbase and perhaps even attract a few more new fans along the way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Magnetic Eye for the promo. Bury Your Dead is now available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Year Of The Cobra - European Tour News

Doom/Psych/Grunge Duo - Year Of The Cobra are heading out on their first European venture by playing 5 shows in France and Germany.

This is YOTC's first European tour and we're heading over to play Hell Over Hammaburg Festival in Hamburg, Germany. We're playing a handful of headlining dates around the festival in Germany and France. H42 Records released a limited edition 7", specifically for Hell Over Hammaburg and our tour - which sold out online within hours.

We'll have a small number of these for sale at our shows, they are the only copies available. We're planning on heading back to Europe in the fall for a full European tour.

We'll keep you posted on the details for that.

You can read my review of their excellent debut album here and an interview here.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Tour News: MOS GENERATOR - USA 2016 TOUR DATES

MOS GENERATOR ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL USA 2016 TOUR DATES IN SUPPORT OF THEIR LATEST THREE RELEASES, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SHOW DATES WITH CASTLE & YEAR OF THE COBRA!

November 4th, 2016 (Port Orchard, WA.) – ‘Mos Generator’ has just announced additional 2016 USA West Coast tour dates in support of their two brand new EP releases, “The Firmament: Direction of Years” (Stickman Records) and “Lies of Liberty ‘87” (Self released digital download), as well as their latest studio LP release, “Abyssinia” (Listenable Records).

The band will start the tour off in Seattle with a show alongside ‘Castle’ & ‘Ancient Warlocks’, and then continue with the entire US West Coast, as well as Phoenix & Las Vegas, ending the tour in Tacoma with ‘Year of the Cobra’ & ‘Ancient Warlocks’. This tour will include ten show dates with ‘Castle’, and six dates with ‘Year of the Cobra’.

San Francisco’s ‘Castle’, consisting of Liz Blackwell (vocals/bass), Mat Davis (guitar/vocals), and Al McCartney (drums), has maintained a relentless touring schedule since the release of “Under Siege” in 2014 with multiple expeditions throughout the US, Europe, and Canada. They have garnered numerous awards in multiple countries, and have played some of the more popular underground festivals including Roadburn and both the London and Berlin Desertfests. ‘Castle’ will be headlining ten of the shows on this Mos Generator tour schedule!

Seattle’s ‘Year of the Cobra’, consisting of Amy Tung Barrysmith (vocals/bass) and Jon Barrysmith (drums) hit the ground running in 2015 with their EP release “The Black Sun”. They currently just released their debut LP, “In the Shadows Below”, with STB Records, and have announced touring plans for the US and Europe in 2016 & 2017. ‘Year of the Cobra’ will be joining the bill on six dates during this ‘Mos Generator’ tour!

Mos Generator USA Fall 2016 West Coast Tour Dates;

• November 25^th - Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse (w/ Castle & Ancient Warlocks)
• November 26^th - Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown (w/ Castle & Year of the Cobra)
• November 27^th - Olympia, WA @ The Obsidian (w/ Castle & Year of the Cobra)
• November 28^th - Portland, OR @ The Raven (w/ Castle)
• November 29^th - Eugene, OR @ Old Nick's Pub (w/ Castle)
• November 30^th - Grants Pass, OR @ The G Street Bar and Grill (w/ Castle)
• December 1^st - San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside (w/ Castle)
• December 2^nd - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Blue Lagoon (w/ Castle)
• December 3^rd - Ventura, CA @ The Garage (w/ Castle)
• December 4^th - Glendale, CA @ The Complex (w/ Castle)
• December 5^th - San Diego CA @ The Merrow
• December 6^th - Phoenix AZ @ TBA
• December 7^th - Las Vegas NV @ The Dive Bar
• December 8^th - Sacramento CA @ The Starlite Lounge (w/ Year of the Cobra)
• December 9^th - Arcata CA @ The Alibi (w/ Year of the Cobra)
• December 10^th - Medford OR @ Johnny B's (w/ Year of the Cobra)
• December 11^th - Tacoma WA @ The Valley (w/ Year of the Cobra & Ancient Warlocks)

Live video of ‘Mos Generator’ in Copenhagen (2015) here; 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoGhHIOEphs

Official video for the song “Catspaw” from the “Abyssinia” LP;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KFwHFeTbR8

Port Orchard’s ‘Mos Generator’, consists of Tony Reed (vocals/guitar), Sean Booth (bass), and Jon Garrett (drums). This current powerhouse line up has already released an LP and two EPs just this year, put multiple tours to Europe and around parts of the US under their belts, and have much more lined up for 2017. They are only picking up speed as they go! Come out and experience it live to see what the well-deserved hype is all about!

MOS GENERATOR - 

https://www.facebook.com/MosGenerator

https://mosgenerator.bandcamp.com

CASTLE

https://www.facebook.com/CastleSF

http://www.heavycastle.com

YEAR OF THE COBRA

https://www.facebook.com/yearofthecobraband

https://yearofthecobra.bandcamp.com

LISTENABLE RECORDS

https://www.facebook.com/listenablerecs

http://www.listenable.net

STICKMAN RECORDS

https://www.facebook.com/Stickman-Records-1522369868033940

Outlaws Nation Joint Interview: An Interview with YEAR OF THE COBRA

Year Of The Cobra are about to release their colossal debut album ...In The Shadows Below. The band which is comprised of married Drum and Bass riffsters – Amy Tung-Barrysmith (Bassist/Vox) and Jon Barrysmith (Drums) have created a delicately played and loud as hell debut album. It's an album that strikes the perfect balance between heavy Doom sounds with a pounding Sludgy/Stoner based groove.

Year Of The Cobra have been making a name for themselves over the last 18 months or so. They already have a fearsome live reputation and have already released a split single with Mos Generator. Signed to ace record label STB Records who will be releasing their debut album on October 29^th 2016, Year Of The Cobra are going to become one of your favourite bands.

I asked my good pal Matthew Thomas over at Taste Nation LLC if he wanted to do one of our joint interviews that we've been doing recently. He agreed and this is the result as Year Of The Cobra have agreed to do another Outlaws Nation Joint Interview.....

OOTS/TN – Hi Amy, Jon. Thanks for doing this joint interview. Congrats on the new album. How are things with you both today.

YOTC - We’re doing great! Thank you. Excited about the album release. It’s been a busy week for sure!

OOTS - Can you tell our readers how the band came together. Or why you decided to form the band.

YOTC - We met on Halloween 2007 at a club called the King King in LA. We were playing in separate bands at the time and didn’t really talk much at that show. It wasn’t until the second or third show we played together before we became friends. We actually didn’t start writing music together until 2014, after moving to Seattle. We didn’t really know anyone in the music scene at the time, so we just started writing songs. Luckily, we both wanted to write the same style of music. For the most part, it was easy.

OOTS – Why did you choose the name Year Of The Cobra for your band. Any specific meaning.

YOTC - It took quite a while to find the right name. We had long lists that covered many pieces of paper before we decided on Year of the Cobra. It was actually supposed to be a temporary name, but it stuck and we’re glad it did.

TN – We are here to talk about your new album. What was your recording process like? Was it spread out over days, weeks, months…….?

YOTC - We booked 10 days with Billy Anderson to track everything. Billy did a few mixes for us remotely after tracking, but we went back for the final mixes to make sure it was exactly what we wanted. All in all, it took about 3 months from the initial tracking to the final masters. The recording process itself was amazing. The studio, Hallowed Halls, was magnificent and working with Billy was life altering. He’s a genius. We consider him a third member of our band now.

OOTS – How did you manage to hook-up with the legend that is Billy Anderson to Produce the album. Especially for your debut album. What was it like working with Billy. Did he provide any helpful advice when you were recording the new album.

YOTC - Billy was at the top of our list for many reasons. He was the first and only one we reach out to and he really liked the EP. The first time he came to watch us play, we were scared shitless, to say the least. After working with him, we’re still scared shitless, haha, but we’re all good friends now and we have the utmost respect for him. His ear, his ideas, his knowledge, is beyond anything we’ve seen or experienced before. He just knew exactly what we were going for, without ever having to tell him. It was amazing.

TN – What does Billy bring to the Year Of The Cobra sound.

YOTC - One of the first things Billy said to us when we first met him was that he knew how to make it sound big, without making it sound like we added a ton of tracks, and that’s exactly what he did. Billy brought a bin full of pedals that we tried in every configuration until we found the exact tone. We’re sure no one noticed, but right after the recording, Amy’s pedal board got much larger.

TN - Did you "test" the new tracks at live shows to see what people's response to the new material.

YOTC - Absolutely. We always test out songs live first. It’s one thing to play it in the studio, but you won’t know how it works until you see how a crowd reacts.

OOTS – The album is being released on STB Records. Perhaps one of the best independent record labels currently out there. Did you guys have offers from other labels. Or was their no hesitation in signing for anybody else.

YOTC - STB was actually the only label we contacted directly. Jon sent an email when we released the EP to say that we were a brand new band and that we wanted to be on Steve’s (STB) radar. Steve wrote back the next day and said that he liked our debut EP, and in his own words said, “you are definitely on my radar”. From there, we started some cool and casual conversations via email and bonded over our punk and hardcore roots and our DIY ideals. Within that week, we signed with STB. The STB Family is real. We’re so stoked to be a part of this movement. It’s home.

OOTS – Did you have any involvement with the final design of the Vinyls or Cassettes. Or was this left down to Steve STB.

YOTC - We definitely had involvement. Steve wouldn’t have it any other way. Before we even recorded, right when first signed with Steve, he was chatting with us separately just to figure out who we were as people and our take on the band. It’s important to him to make sure the band is represented properly, not in the image that he wants, but in the image that the band wants. He’s the real deal, all heart.

TN - The album crossovers and melds many genres from Doom, Stoner, Psych, and Sludge. How would you classify the album's sound? Your thoughts on the use of the Doom/Stoner Rock designation which many describe your album as?

YOTC - The album does have many crossovers. We intended it to be slightly diverse, to shake things up a bit. Our main shared background is hardcore punk, but as individuals, our musical tastes span the spectrum which helps when we’re writing music. We’re willing to move in whatever direction the song takes us.

TN - What contemporary Bands do you like? Do you have any guilty pleasures that you would like to share with us?

YOTC - That’s a good one….. I don’t think anyone should have a “guilty pleasure”. Music is music, you like what you like. Don’t give a shit what people think and don’t be ashamed. We could go on forever about current bands we love. We play out a lot and have toured quite a bit this past year and are always in awe of the talent that we’re surrounded by, not to mention the cool people we meet.

TN - Will you be hitting the road on an extensive tour to support the album or have multiple, shorter outings? For my own selfish reason, will you be coming to Southern California to play??

YOTC - We have some short tours planned in the near future. A west coast tour the end of this year (2016) with Mos Generator and Castle, and Europe in March and again in April/May. So far, no plans to play LA, but it is on our list. We’ll definitely do a full US tour for summer of 2017 again like we did this year.

OOTS – How hard is it for you to tour and perform with Year Of The Cobra especially with your young family. Are your kids proud and happy of their “Rockstar Parents”.

YOTC - Our family is always our first concern, but to have a happy family, we both feel it is important for us to focus on things that fulfil us as well. We’re just both lucky (and unlucky) that we want to do the same thing. We believe it’s important for us to show our kids that we’re willing to work hard on something that we believe in and hopefully, they find the same drive in whatever fulfils them.

TN – You've only been going as a band for about 20 months or so. Has is it surprised you the responses you've received for your music from the Doom/Stoner Metal community. Looking back then did you ever think you would be releasing your debut album.

YOTC - We started the band because we just wanted to play music we both loved and somehow, we found a crowd that happens to like it too. Whatever happens, we will always write and play music. Hopefully, it will be music that resonates with others as much as it does with us.

OOTS – Who designed the awesome artwork for the album. How much input did you have into the final design of the artwork.

YOTC - The artwork for the album was designed by our good friend, Esther Heckman. She is one of the most amazing artists we have ever met. She doesn’t normally do album art, but we sent her one song off the album as inspiration (Electric Warrior) and gave her no direction. Everything after that was her own creation.

OOTS – For a Drum/Bass Duo. You have quite a loud sound compared to other Drum/Bass duos. How do you create this sound. Do you use an advanced setup or basic setup when recording and playing live.

YOTC - It was important for us to sound big because being a duo is very limiting. Amy’s setup is very fluid. She can find a setup that works for the moment, but is constantly on the lookout for something that can help advance it. Splitting the bass tones was a no brainer, but finding the right amp/cabinet and pedal combination was much harder. It is always in flux.

OOTS/TN – We both wish you every success with it. As it's a fantastic album that will no doubt receive a ton of praise when it's fully released. Do you have anything to say to your fans before we go.

YOTC - We just want to thank everyone. We’re so appreciative of the response we’ve received so far. We have put so much heart into this project, it’s nice to see that other people like it as well. Many thanks to you, Steve and Matthew, for the killer review and for doing this interview.

Words by Steve Howe, Matthew Thomas and Year Of The Cobra

Thanks to Amy and Jon for taking the time out talking to Matthew and myself. ...In The Shadows Below will be available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via STB Records from October 29^th 2016.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Year Of The Cobra - ...In The Shadows Below (Album Review)

Release date: October 29th 2016. Label: STB Records. Format: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

...In The Shadows Below – Tracklisting

1.Lion And The Unicorn

2.The Siege

3.Vision Of Three

4.Spider And The Fly

5.Persephone

6.White Wizard

7.Temple Of Apollo

8.Electric Warrior

Band Members:

Amy Tung-Barrysmith – Bass/Vocals

Jon Barrysmith - Drums

Review:

Year Of The Cobra have only been going as a band since 2015. Since then they have released a debut EP and a split record with legendary Stoner Rock band – Mos Generator. Both releases were acclaimed within the Doom/Stoner Community and this only showed a brief glimpse of what the band were truly capable of. When news was announced that the band signed to STB Records this made a lot of people very excited to hear their full length debut album.

Now that time is upon us as Year Of The Cobra have released ...In The Shadows Below. An 8 song opus that weaves a magical spell of Doom based Psych Stoner Rock riffs. There are a few moments of heavy sludge based riffs to prove that Year Of The Cobra know how to create a thunderous atmosphere.

Opening track Lion And The Unicorn is one of the albums strongest tracks as it gives the full picture of what to expect on the album. Year Of The Cobra are primarily a Drum and Bass Duo with lead vocalist Amy providing superb vocals. Year Of The Cobra paint a gloomy atmosphere with Jon's heavy drums and Amy's pounding bass. The band prove you don't need a lead guitarist to create heavy riffs as this hugely talented duo create heavy noises of their own.

Second track – The Siege – carries on the gloomy atmospherics with a few moments of psychedelic noises starting to appear for the first time. Amy's vocals have quite a hypnotic vibe to them. The band excel once again in the riffs department as they play an epic progressive jam based duel towards the end of the song.

Third track – Vision Of Three – opens with a slow-paced heavy pounding bass riff with Jon's finely tuned drumming that allows the band to build up excitement for the song. It's a more grunge based affair compared to the opening two tracks but Year Of The Cobra slowly add elements of Noise, Doom, Psych and Stoner sounds for one of the albums more emotionally haunting songs. Amy's vocals take a slight turn into Occult Rock territory though you can still detect something sinister lurking around the corner.

The whole production of the album is first rate which is not surprising since it was produced by the legendary Billy Anderson. Billy gives Year Of The Cobra's sound a heavier and more direct approach. Even the quieter moments still sound HEAVY!!!

Fourth track – Spider And The Fly – sees the band opting for a more 90s Alt Rock/Grunge sounding track with the emphasis firmly on Amy's vocals and the superb lyrics. Spider And The Fly is perhaps one of my favourite songs off the album as the song only lasts for 3 minutes but the band play some of the albums heaviest and fastest riffs on this song.

Fifth track – Persephone – is perhaps the song that most people will find the most enjoyment as it's another fast-paced affair but one that is pure Doom/Stoner Rock carnage. The instrumental work holds your attention throughout and you still won't miss the sound of an actual guitar. Shades of classic Black Sabbath appear on this track and it's a very cool influence to hear. Though the band do show their love for all things PUNK ROCK as well.

The final 3 tracks – White Wizard, Temple Of Apollo and Electric Warrior – sees Year Of The Cobra return to their Psych/Doom Metal roots with Amy's vocals moving into Occult Rock territory once again. Jon's drumming is perhaps what holds your attention as he's a fucking madman on the drums especially on White Wizard.

Year Of The Cobra have delivered on all counts with their debut album. ...In The Shadow's Below is simply an album you cannot ignore. It's a powerful and hard rocking affair that may just launch Year Of The Cobra as one of the next breakout bands within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd Shickler for the promo. ...In The Shadows Below will be released on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via STB Records from October 29^th 2016.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp