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Sweet Cobra - Mercy

Sweet Cobra

Mercy

Somewhat of a Chicago noise-rock institution, Sweet Cobra have been pounding away now for years on local labels like Seventh Rule and Hawthorne Street. On Mercy, their Blackmarket Activities debut, the plodding, ominous riffs and caveman vocals are brought to a whole new level of ass-kickery. The band sound possessed by their angst, letting melody seep into the proceedings only when it’s convenient for their next wave of heavy. The production of Sanford Parker (Pelican, Nachtmystium) and a wonderfully brutal mix by Converge’s Kurt Ballou give “Matriach” and “Sprague Dawley” a Neurosis-meets-Mastodon roar, but there’s also a strong ’90s alt-metal vibe creeping right below the surface. Mercy will make extreme-metal fans feel like they’re listening to quicksand (and, well, Quicksand), but it will also seriously harsh the mellow of anyone who likes the lighter side of Torche. That’s two very distinct reasons why this band completely rule.

Blackmarket Activities http://www.blackmarketactivities.com

“Reinhold London”

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