Love Venom

A window shatters, somewhere in the night. Our bound vixen shrieks! like a serpent trolled scream queen. Thusly, begins Cobra Spell's ineluctably 80s metal/glam rock-ish Love Venom debut EP (released independently, albeit limitedly, at beginning of September, under usual assortment of vehicles i.e. CD, vinyl, digital).

Starring, as coming-of-age, expressively versatile front man, Alexx Panza (of Hitten and Jack Starr's Burning Starr repute), alongside ex-Burning Witches ax-woman Sonia Anubis - who, perhaps, walks like an Egyptian - and ax dude Sebastian "Spyder" Silva (veritable nomad, having sojourned with likes of Silver Talon, Spellcaster, Idle Hands and Leathürbitch), with relative unknown, yet duly competent, Angelina Vehera on bass, the ephemeral lot of it backed by drummer Mike "Lucas" Verhof, Cobra Spell plays a wickedly non-committal, however risqué and over-the-top, style of sleazy heavy rock exuding spoof-like nature, such as iconic Spinal Tap, or 1982 Canadian obscurity Breaker, whose In Days Of Heavy Metal EP possessed a one-of-a-kind, rarely-if-ever repeated, excitable torpor.

Care-free and laid-back, emotional vocals dominate the mid-tempo, Alice Cooper/Ratt evoking "Come On Tonight", which gradually turns up the heat, from its soaring power chords, psyched backing vocals, and overall, perfect mixture of AOR and glam, I know a fellow, sweet-toothed colleague, hereabouts, will lap up! For that matter, Snakebite and Sadhayena fans (of Germany and France) might get a kick - where, I cannot guarantee - out of the hard hitting smackers, abroad.

The more or less Hitten-esque "Poison Bite" shines by means of dextrously fly dual guitar harmonies one could liken to Dutch melange of 7Zuma7 stoner rock polish with Vanderbuyst fish-net & garter belt trad metal. It's certainly heavier and ballsier than its predecessor, as well as soulful power ballad successor. This brings me to "Love Venom" proper, surprisingly, or not, the EP's top highlight. Its dreamy, wistful croons and cozy return to rueful, heart-broken form, in addition to revved up mid section and ensuing wind-down, all conspire together to rival likes of Spain's Leather Heart and Peru's Natthammer, insofar as richly nostalgic, soothing lullabies are concerned (and spurned).

A crankier, Mötley Crüe/WASP fashioned three-minute morsel of Swiss babybel cheese i.e. freshly packaged (for our stringy convenience) in closer "Shake Me" seals the deal. While not quite as thorough or enthralling as initial Love Venom triptych (first 3 tracks), still makes heady contribution, in form of flashy Slash/George Lynch-ian guitar solo. As well, further guilty pleasure is gleaned from its corny refrain: "Take me! Take me away! Love is like a drug and it makes me want to play! Tonight I'm looking for love and you're needed by my side!"

Admittedly, digging Cobra Spell's Love Venom EP, with its scandalous level of cheesy precociousness, entails equivalent of relishing any one Jackie Collins novel - think Confessions of a Wild Child, Hollywood Wives and/or personal favourite, Poor Little Bitch Girl; it's trashy, contrived and, more often than not, flat-out outrageous. In other words, good, clean, salacious fun. With that, am wholly prepared for ribald ribbin inherent to such carnally adorned whimsy. Traditional heavy metal/hard rock fans seeking 1980s glam rock revelation, search no more.

"The clock is ticking, no time to lose
My blood is boiling, I'm addicted to you
The look in your eyes tells it all
You want it, you need it, just give me a call!"