“War Metal” is the first full length album by Colorado based commando COBALT after having released the MCD “Hammerfight” in 2002. Citing the info these warriors are heavily influenced by the extreme War Metal scene in Canada and Australia. Fortunately they don’t deliver just pure noise and chaos like REVENGE. So I would say these guys are more into the vein of the Australian style like we are used to know from acts like DESTROYER 666 or GOSPEL OF THE HORNS. The seven tracks of the album deliver a Black / Thrash blend with the emphasis on Thrash. Even the band has many extreme speed passages in their sound COBALT don’t make the mistake to blast just around for speed’s sake or raging one-dimensional. The metallic assault has clear structures and the fast paced eruptions come in the right moments. You have a lot of mid paced thrash riffing here with long instrumental parts which is all very much influenced by the 80s. A fact I like very much. You even can hear some elements from old Celtic Frost or Destruction here as well. Leadsolos can’t be found here. The vocal delivery is then the typical blackish screaming, nothing special but it fits to that type of music. The sound is well done. You can hear everything very clear (no chaotic, messy sound here) but it’s not overproduced and so it captures a kind of old school charm. By the way the cover is cool and untypical. It shows you a black & white horse by night in the prairie. Fans of DESTROYER 666, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS and other bands into that direction can check these outfit out. For more infos or sound files check out either the band’s website www.cobalt-attack.com or the label’s URL www.displeasedrecords.com.