Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



Cobra Skulls' second full-length for Red Scare, American Rubicon, finds the Reno, Nevada group taking chances, experimenting with their sound and succeeding greatly. Apart from their contribution to Suburban Home’s Under the Influence 7” series and the three-song Never Be a Machine EP, this is their first major release in two years, and it seems they’ve been practicing.

For a band that plays primarily straightforward punk rock, it’s surprising how good they are at actually playing their instruments. Devin Peralta in particular has become an absolute monster on bass. 2007’s Sitting Army had some pretty sweet basslines, but American Rubicon features some of the finest punk rock bass playing since Rancid’s And Out Come the Wolves. However, like all their releases, even though the majority of the proceedings are a punk rock affair, they do venture into various different genres, including rockabilly and folk.

As with all Cobra Skulls releases, Peralta’s lyrics are a definite highlight. Here he tackles everything from the importance of public transportation ("Muniphobia"), overpopulation ("Overpopulated"), straight-edge thugs ("Bad Apples") and the uncertainty of direction in life ("One Day I’ll Never"), each with style and skill. The Spanish lyrics fans have come to expect from past gems like "¡Hasta Los Cobra Skulls Siempre!" and "Use Your Cobra Skulls" return in "Thicker Than Water." Gone, however, is the use of the words Cobra and/or Skull in every song title, which the band addresses with the title of instrumental interlude “I Used to Like Them When They Put ‘Cobra’ in the Titles.”

Early in their career the group received comparisons to bands like Against Me! and the Dead Kennedys; on this record, it seems they’ve finally found their own distinctive sound (granted, “Timing” does recall early Against Me!). Cobra Skulls have unleashed a monster of a record with American Rubicon that has, at once, stayed true to the sound they established on their earlier releases and expanded into new territory which will garner them new fans.



People who liked this also liked:
The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A RGaslight Anthem - The '59 SoundThe Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever ToldAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyDear Landlord - Dream HomesFake Problems - It's Great to Be AliveGaslight Anthem - Sink or SwimCobra Skulls - Sitting ArmyOperation Ivy - Operation Ivy



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by RAMBUNCTOID on 2009-09-24 00:10:03
    My Score:

    Cut off all the fast punk songs save for "Back To the Youth" and you've got an album worthy of 9 stars. These guys can write an incredible pop song and they should embrace that. It seems like they just go "okay, lets throw a (place different genre here) part in this one" for all their fast punk songs.

    Posted by Kurasuke on 2009-09-23 23:32:54
    My Score:

    "The Copyrights should have headlined Red Scare Fest instead of them."
    Couldn't disagree more. The Copyrights are good, but I was bored with them by the end of their 30 minute set. Cobra Skulls have so much more variety in their sound.

    Posted by thepopeofchili-town on 2009-09-23 21:32:37

    "wasn't this review posted a long time ago and then taken away? i smell secrets..."

    Naw, I wrote this like 4 or 5 days ago.

    Posted by Problematiclogic on 2009-09-23 19:45:41
    My Score:

    Um...what can I say? This is great!

    Posted by Blackjaw_ on 2009-09-23 14:37:02

    fhghgfhfghgf

    Posted by Hey_Asshole on 2009-09-23 14:25:19

    i normally am a fan of anything Red Scare puts out. they are getting close to Lookout! Records circa the 90's in terms of a super solid stable of bands.

    using that analogy, Cobra Skulls are like Sludgeworth. by that, i mean, on paper it sounds like something i would love...but after listening to it, it bores me.

    this band just sounds super derivative to me, and i thought they were boring live. The Copyrights should have headlined Red Scare Fest instead of them. had Brendan Kelly not been all up on their dick promoting them, i doubt everyone here would not be as stoked for them as they are.

    that is my two cents

    Posted by name on 2009-09-22 20:07:06

    wasn't this review posted a long time ago and then taken away? i smell secrets...

    Posted by ahopeagainsthope on 2009-09-22 18:09:18
    My Score:

    I didn't like this anywhere near as much as Sitting Army at first, but after three or four listens, I think it's just as good, if not better.

    "One Day I'll Never" is the motherfucking jam.

    Posted by telegraphrocks on 2009-09-22 16:55:44
    My Score:

    First week I had this, I'd give it an 8 or 9. In love, but not in love like Sitting Army. Over the past two months, this managed to pass Sitting Army in awesomeness.
    On an ipod I've had for nearly 3 years, every song on this has managed their way to the top of the "Play Count". It might actually be kind of embarrassing to say the exact number of times each song has been listened to...

    This album is perfect except for one thing... it ends.

    Only my second 10-score of the year... and I doubt another will come around.

    P.S.
    Daisy is shitty.

    Posted by ffwoodycooks on 2009-09-22 16:38:58
    My Score:

    "This record is like a dude in the gym shower you think has a tiny penis, then he checks out your ass and you see he's got a 10 inch hog.

    Other words, grower not a shower."

    so you were in the gym grower not the gym shower? i dont get it.

    this album kinda came and went for me. Its a solid 7.

    Posted by el_backpulver on 2009-09-22 16:16:35
    My Score:

    Third best album of 2009

    Posted by Redscare on 2009-09-22 15:56:08
    My Score:

    See, Sonny Six KNOWS.

    Posted by kylewagoner on 2009-09-22 14:14:33
    My Score:

    This album is amazing because this band is amazing. I am SO glad that Brendan Kelly suggested checking them out. I compare their sound to the three Me's (Against Me!, Dead to Me, Tiger Army). My favorites are "H.D.U.I." and "One Day I'll Never." The latter is fun as hell to play on piano.

    love,
    Kyle

    Posted by fattony on 2009-09-22 12:34:17
    My Score:

    I like it, but not as much as Sitting Army. Also, I've never once seen this band compared to Dead Kennedys.

    Posted by aggropaul on 2009-09-22 12:24:01

    2009 has had a ton of good releases. This is towards the top.

    Posted by SonnySix on 2009-09-22 12:22:53
    My Score:

    Finally we get a review up for this record. Favorite record of the year.

    Go see these guys live!

    Posted by usversusthem on 2009-09-22 11:52:11
    My Score:

    This album is basically the boss. One of the best of 2009 for sure.

    Posted by laserguidedbygod on 2009-09-22 11:31:42

    "I'll never get into this band. Not fair for me to try to score it."

    Seconded. Though "One Day I'll Never" is awesome. Their punk sound just bores me.

    Posted by mattramone on 2009-09-22 11:14:10
    My Score:

    This record is like a dude in the gym shower you think has a tiny penis, then he checks out your ass and you see he's got a 10 inch hog.

    Other words, grower not a shower.

    Posted by 655321 on 2009-09-22 10:48:44
    My Score:

    Finally!

    Posted by OverDefined on 2009-09-22 10:34:06

    overpopulation ("Overpopulated")

    Posted by dinosaurs on 2009-09-22 10:27:40
    My Score:

    Probably the album I listened to most while working over the summer, and one of my favorites of the year.

    Posted by preston on 2009-09-22 10:23:00
    My Score:

    Shit. I love this album. May take my favorite "punk" album of the year.

    Posted by cyanotic on 2009-09-22 10:09:21
    My Score:

    This is my album of the year. Glad to see it's finally been reviewed, and with a score it well deserves.

    Too bad no one cares what I think.

    Posted by SuperMacguyver on 2009-09-22 09:15:29
    My Score:

    Am I the only person ever to think that Devin sounds like a young, intelligent Danzig. Basically Danzig without trying to sound tough and mean; just singing.

    Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-09-22 02:05:32
    My Score:

    such a beast!!!

    Posted by ashtraymonument on 2009-09-22 01:28:40
    My Score:

    great album, seems a little long though.

    there are some many awesome little hooks and things of that sort that really make this album stand out.

    Posted by onegirlarmy on 2009-09-22 00:52:46
    My Score:

    Loved this so much more than Sitting Army, and that record was damn good. So catchy and fun.

    Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2009-09-22 00:50:13
    My Score:

    garnered me as a new fan. love it

    Posted by Blackjaw_ on 2009-09-22 00:47:12

    I'll never get into this band. Not fair for me to try to score it.

    Posted by DarrenMcLeod on 2009-09-22 00:34:50
    My Score:

    Love this album, and "H.D.U.I." is near the top of my list for song of the year.

    Posted by 24hourpriapism on 2009-09-22 00:05:58
    My Score:

    second best album of the year.

    © 1999-2009 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon