Sometimes in metal and heavy music circles the use of keyboards can sound contrived - and even a little lightweight and wimpy. But on Cobra Khan's Adversities, the staunch Auckland quintet's follow-up to 2008's Helgorithms, the keys of Sarah Fox add subtle intrigue to these raging songs while also adding power to the brutal onslaught. Amid the vicious frenzy of Grave Weight it's a dark, almost baroque metal dynamic that comes through in her playing, and in contrast, a menacing psychedelic wooze she conjures up on monstrous epic Pariah. But never fear, because there is also plenty of guitar savagery, pummelling beats, and here's a warning: don't try to sing along with shouter and serenader Milon Williams because you're likely to do yourself some permanent damage. It's not only a step up in intensity from Helgorithms, as they beat and belt the songs out, but it's also a step up in terms of polish and power.
For example, Pariah lurches along that fine line between extreme and catchy - which is a rare thing with this sort of racket. Meanwhile, Executions rides a grand and chugging Killing Joke-style groove, the duelling vocals on Borderlands (between Williams and Craig Radford of Sticky Filth) make it an extra beastly proposition, and on Strider they hark back to their melodic hardcore/punk roots, before Velvet Trenches awakens a deathly dirge. Turn it up. Bring the noise.
Stars: 4/5
Verdict: Yet another blazing top-notch Kiwi metal release
Buy Cobra Khan's Adversities here.
-TimeOut
