California’s Black Cobra have steamrolled through four albums of Eyehategod dense sludge and the military strict march of High On Fire, but with more energy than the both of them. On their fifth full length, Imperium Simulacra, the band retains their venom but returns from a 4 1/2 year gap showing a level of maturity only hinted to this point. This is as far from their caustic debut Bestial the band has ventured with slow builds, bluesy bridges and a larger focus on melody. But make no mistake, at the end of the day this is still the same Black Cobra. Continue reading →