L.A. COBRA – Superstition (2022)
L.A. COBRA, the only known glammy melodic hard rock band hailing from South Africa, are releasing today their new album titled ”Superstition”. While taking all the elements from the ’80s gang, L.A. COBRA‘s ”Superstition” is a unique contribution to the sleaze/glam genre with massive choruses that will have you singing along in no time.
Mixed, mastered and produced by Martin Sweet of CRASHDIET, on ”Superstition” the band add their own twist to this type of music, varied and at places weird but that adventurous cocktail works very well, bringing a refreshing air to this flashy kind of rock n’ roll.
‘The Star’, the new single from the album, is a motivational, cross-genre anthem, encouraging the pushing of limits in order to win. This relatable, up-beat and feel-good chorus will encourage everyone to shine like the star they are.
Defined by themselves as “a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm”, this album is chock full of time changes. Usually this can create a messy sounding record and is best utilized by progressive bands who can master these changes. L.A. Cobra is certainly not progressive, yet they have managed to construct complexity from what would normally be simplistic, straightforward tracks.
Take for example the favorite ‘Nothing Like a Nemesis’: the rhythm changes between the verses, bridge, and chorus could have been disastrous, but it works well here and gives the song a uniqueness that is lacking in an ever-crowding field of bands all vying for that late ’80s sound.
Bonus points for having a cool sounding title that has never been used by any prior band.
That’s just one of many great tracks. ‘She’s My Prison’ has a strong chorus that explodes from the speakers with great gang vocals very reminiscent of Crashdïet, which is not a stretch being that the album was produced by their guitarist. ‘Chemical Dependency’ makes the interesting choice of having bass player Ewil take lead several times and lays down a solid rhythm that frames the entire song.
Title track ‘Superstition’ has a sinister feel and that unusual time changes, including times when the band briefly ceases playing before exploding back with the chorus. It also has my favorite guitar riff on the album. It was during this song that I came to realize why the vocals sounded so familiar. At times singer Don Cobra has a similar vibrato to Tobias Forge, the lead singer of Ghost. The song is great despite the fact there seems to be a portion of a guitar solo missing. There’s a rhythm section for it, but without the solo, the section seems hollow.
Also worth noting on this album is the lack of a ballad. Not problematic per se, but a ballsy move as most bands of the genre include at least one ballad.
L.A. Cobra has L.A. in their name for a reason. This is unapologetically sleazy glam metal at this finest. If you dig that sound, you must add this to your collection. The melodies constructed by the band are all top notch and as said, they try something different songwriting-wise.
Martin Sweet obviously has been involved into the band’s direction – but L.A Cobra doesn’t sound like Crashdïet, and production is raw, not overdone.
Highly Recommended
01 – Strange Desires
02 – Nothing Like A Nemesis
03 – The Star
04 – Superstition
05 – Untamed
06 – I Want More
07 – Chemical Dependency
08 – She’s My Prison
09 – Inferno
10 – Kill
Don Cobra – vocals
Slade – guitars
Callie the Animal – drums
Ewil Honey – bass, vocals
BUY
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B42BF9Z8
