COBRAKILL – Serpent’s Kiss

The German heavy metal/hard rock outfit known as Cobrakill unleashed their sophomore effort a couple of months ago via Frontiers and this 12-track slice of fiery fun is filled with adrenaline-fueled riffs, gang vocals, and a bad-ass attitude. There is no shortage of vigor and quality to this 80s-inspired blast of raw rock ‘n’ roll and even its production sounds like a throwback to the glory days of hard rock and metal. There is not a shred of innovation to this one – everything is about the liberating power and spirit of kick-ass music performed with zeal and passion by a bunch of guys who firmly believe in what they are doing, which is obviously a huge plus and pretty cool.     

Serpent’s Kiss does generate heaps of excitement, and to these ears it is instantly likeable and charming, but it is rarely outright intoxicating or mind-blowing and it is somewhat predictable in places. Regardless, it may not be an ear-splitting triumph, but it is undoubtedly a solid and perfectly uplifting output and just the kind of thing you might want to crank up loud when driving or throwing a party. Fans of Lizzy Borden, Judas Priest, early W.A.S.P., and LA Guns should give this LP a listen.