Where Steel Panther are a knowing pastiche of 80s hair metal, Cobra Spell play it straight. They could have been one of the also-rans declaring they were going to be stars in The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II –the looks and attitude are present but the Xfactor is not quite there. They can certainly play and singer Kristina Vega has an impressive wail, but opener S.E.X. is all front and no hooks while Fly Away is tepid power balladry. The sax-imbued Love = Love and infectious The Devil Inside Of Me are far better, dancing gleefully over the fine line between big dumb fun and throwaway trash. In the 80s they’d have been strictly second division, but in 2023 the throwback novelty might just win out.
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FOR FANS OF: Battle Beast, Reckless Love, Warrant
PAUL TRAVERS