Gold Cobra

Gold Cobra
Studio album by Limp Bizkit
Released June 28, 2011 (2011-06-28)
(See release history)
Recorded August 24, 2009–March 18, 2011
Genre
Length 49:37
Label Flip/Interscope
Producer Fred Durst
Limp Bizkit chronology
The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)
(2005)		 Gold Cobra
(2011)		 Stampede of the Disco Elephants
(TBA)
Singles from Gold Cobra
  1. "Shotgun"
    Released: May 17, 2011
  2. "Gold Cobra"
    Released: June 7, 2011

Gold Cobra is the fifth studio album by American rock band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2011 by Flip/Interscope Records, it is the band's first studio album since 2003's Results May Vary, and the first with the full original lineup since 2000's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. It is the band's last album to be released on Flip/Interscope. It is also the last album to feature DJ Lethal before he was fired from the band in 2012. Gold Cobra features an eclectic and diverse sound, but also similar in style to the band's earlier albums. The album, which featured the single "Shotgun" and received mixed reviews, sold 27,000 copies during its first week in the United States and peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.[1][2]

Background

In 2004, Limp Bizkit recorded The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), with returning member Wes Borland, but John Otto was replaced by Sammy Siegler for much of the album.[3] Following the release of the band's Greatest Hitz album, the band went on hiatus.[4][5] Borland stated that it was unlikely that a sequel to The Unquestionable Truth would be produced and that "As of right now, none of my future plans include Limp Bizkit."[4] In 2009, Limp Bizkit reunited with Borland on guitar and launched the Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour.[6]

During the tour, Durst announced that they had begun to record a new album, with Borland titled Gold Cobra.[7][8] Borland said that the title does not have any meaning, and that it was chosen because it fit the style of music the band was writing for the album.[8] The band recorded a spoken intro written by Durst and performed by Kiss member Gene Simmons for the album, but it was left off the completed album.[9][10] The band also recorded additional "non-album" tracks, including "Combat Jazz", which featured rapper Raekwon.[10]

Music and lyrics

The music of Gold Cobra was generally described as nu metal,[11][12][13] and has been noted as a return to the established sound of Limp Bizkit's earlier albums.[14][15] However, the album features noticeable variations from the band's established style for a more eclectic sound.[16] Unlike Significant Other, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water and Results May Vary, Gold Cobra does not feature any guest vocalists, and the album's sound predominately focuses on the guitar work of Wes Borland rather than that of turntablist and sound designer DJ Lethal.[15] Sam Rivers' bass playing incorporates elements of jazz and funk,[17] while Borland's guitar playing incorporates a variety of influences, ranging from heavy metal and hard rock to electronic music[16] and DJ Lethal's keyboards and samples give the album a sound that is both melodic and abrasive.[16] The intro, "Introbra", features distorted air raid sirens, and is much darker in tone than the hip hop-influenced intros on Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.[18] Interludes on the album incorporate elements of hip hop and jazz.[13][18]
"Shotgun" (sample)
"Shotgun", from Limp Bizkit's album Gold Cobra, highlights Borland's unique playing style in this solo.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Bring It Back" differs from Limp Bizkit's established sound by being slower and heavier than the band is generally known for.[18] "Shark Attack" is an uptempo track which features references to earlier songs, such as the lyric "another one of those days", which refers to the lyrics of "Break Stuff".[18] "Walking Away", "Loser" and the album's first single, "Shotgun", are noted for featuring guitar solos by Borland, something that Limp Bizkit is not known for.[18] "Shotgun", influenced by heavy metal music, has been described as an anthem by Artistdirect.[19] "Walking Away" is a serene, ambient ballad with introspective lyrics which does not contain any hip hop influence or rapping, in contrast to the sound the band is generally known for, and builds with dramatic solos.[11][15][18] "Loser" combines the softer sound of "Walking Away" with rapped verses,[11][18] and is followed by a heavier track, "Autotunage", featuring Durst singing in autotune,[14][18] and "90.2.10", which incorporates a thrash influence.[18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic53/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[16]
Allmusic[14]
Artistdirect[17]
Consequence of Sound[11]
Deccan Chroniclefavorable[21]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[22]
IGN7.0/10[15]
NME1/10[23]
PopMatters8/10[12]
Rock Sound7/10[13]
theneedledrophummus[24]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 53, indicating "mixed or average reviews", based on 11 reviews.[20] Artistdirect reviewer Rick Florino gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, writing "Gold Cobra is everything you hoped it would be, and rap and metal will be walking funny after it takes a bite out of both them".[17] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album a positive review, calling it "a return to the full-throttled attack of Three Dollar Bill Y'All.[14] Metal Hammer writer Terry Bezer wrote, "Aside from the odd duff moment, Gold Cobra throws out the hot shit that’ll make you bounce in the mosh pit over and over again."[18]

David Buchanan, of Consequence of Sound, called Gold Cobra "an entertaining, boastful, non-alienating piece of nostalgic bliss for those who once held memberships with the LB".[11] In a similar context, Bloody Disgusting writer Jonathan Barkan gave the album a positive review, stating "The album, on a whole, sounds fantastic. [...] It's not Paganini or Opeth or Dream Theater. It's rap rock and it does exactly what it sets out to do."[25] IGN writer Chad Grischow wrote, "Though far from their best work, Limp Bizkit's latest at least proves that their 2005 Greatest Hitz album may have been premature."[15] About.com writer Tim Grierson called Gold Cobra "the group’s strongest since Significant Other".[16]

Entertainment Weekly reviewer Kyle Anderson called the album an "oft-delayed, petulant, and hook-devoid 'comeback' from the onetime champions of early-aughts nü-metal mania."[22] Antiquiet published a negative review which described the album as "music for the sneering scumbags who find kinship in the dregs of cultural rot".[26] The website initially gave the album 1 out of 5 stars.[27] Wes Borland responded to the review, stating "The hatred you have for Fred is part of the reason we've succeeded. [...] No matter what effect he has on people in a ‘TMZ Personality’ kind of way, he is an astonishing front man and performer. I could see 1 out of 5 if you were expecting OK Computer [...] As far as LB records go, Gold Cobra is perfect." In another negative review, NME reviewer Dan Martin wrote that it is "difficult to believe Limp Bizkit could return after all this time somehow even more hateful than before. Yet, by witlessly sticking to what was once termed ‘nu-metal’, a genre now hopelessly old and even less subtle, it’s really beyond parody: it ends up just ugly." theneedledrop refused to review the album, instead making a video consisting of him making a smoothie and eating chips with hummus.

Commercial performance

Gold Cobra charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 charts with 27,000 copies sold in the first week in the United States. The album charted on Billboard Albums for the No. 3 Rock Album, No. 11 Digital Album, No. 2 Alternative Album, No. 1 Hard Rock Album and No. 21 Tastemakers Album.[28] In its second week of release overseas Gold Cobra was No. 7 on the Swiss Album Charts, No. 8 on the Austrian Album Charts, No. 24 on the Canadian Albums Chart[29] and No. 1 on the German Albums Chart.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Fred Durst, except "Middle Finger" by Paul Wall and Fred Durst; all music composed by Limp Bizkit, except "Back Porch" by Fred Durst and Boney B.eats, "Combat Jazz" and "Middle Finger" by Mathematics.

No. Title Length
1. "Introbra"   1:20
2. "Bring It Back"   2:17
3. "Gold Cobra"   3:53
4. "Shark Attack"   3:26
5. "Get a Life"   4:54
6. "Shotgun"   4:32
7. "Douche Bag"   3:42
8. "Walking Away"   4:45
9. "Loser"   4:53
10. "Autotunage"   5:00
11. "90.2.10"   4:18
12. "Why Try"   2:51
13. "Killer in You"   3:46
Total length:
 49:37

Personnel

Limp Bizkit

Production

Charts

Charts (2011) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[29] 12
Austrian Album Chart[29] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[29] 13
Italy[30] 58
German Albums Chart[31] 1
Polish Albums Chart[32] 24
Russian Albums Chart[33] Gold[33] 3
U.S. Billboard 200[28] 16
U.S. Billboard Digital Albums[28] 11
U.S. Billboard Rock Albums[28] 3
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums[28] 2
U.S. Billboard Hard Rock Albums[28] 1
U.S. Billboard Tastemaker Albums[28] 21

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position
Austrian Albums Chart[34] 57
German Albums Chart[35] 66
Russian Albums Chart[36] 45

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Europe June 24, 2011 CD, digital download Interscope
United States June 28, 2011
Japan June 29, 2011
Brazil July 19, 2011 Universal Music

References

  1. ↑ Beyonce Debuts At #1 With 4 - MTV
  2. ↑ Limp Bizkit's 'Gold Cobra' Cracks U.S. Top 20 - Blabbermouth.net
  3. ↑ D'Angelo, Joe (August 16, 2004). "Wes Borland Back With Limp Bizkit". MTV News. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  4. 1 2 Harris, Chris (March 17, 2006). "Bye Bye Bizkit? Wes Borland Says Limp Are Pretty Much Done". MTV News. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Moss, Corey (November 3, 2005). "Fred Durst Says Limp Bizkit Are About To Bring On The Gravy – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ Artist Direct Staff (April 24, 2009). "Limp Bizkit Launches 'Unicorns N' Rainbows' Tour". Artist Direct. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  7. ↑ Simon (November 30, 2009). "World exclusive! Limp Bizkit name new album". Kerrang.com. Bauer Performance. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Collis, Clark (2010-05-05). "Limp Bizkit on their reunion album-and who exactly was to blame for their break up in the first place". Entertainment Weekly Music Mix. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  9. ↑ Contactmusic Staff (November 25, 2010). "Limp Bizkit - Durst Treats Fans To Sneak Peek Of New Record". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. 1 2 NME Staff (November 25, 2010). "Fred Durst previews new Limp Bizkit songs online". NME. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Buchanan, David (June 24, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  12. 1 2 Langhoff, Josh. "Limp Bizkit: Gold Cobra < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  13. 1 2 3 Lewis, Faye. "Limp Bizkit - Gold Cobra | Reviews |". Rock Sound. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen (June 29, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra". Allmusic. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Grischow, Chad (June 27, 2011). "Original line-up yields mostly good results on latest". IGN. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Grierson, Tim (2011-06-28). "Limp Bizkit - Gold Cobra Review". About.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  17. 1 2 3 Florino, Rick (June 17, 2011). "Limp Bizkit — "Gold Cobra" Album Review 5 out of 5 stars". Artistdirect. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bezer, Terry (July 6, 2011). "Gold Cobra review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved Oct 13, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Limp Bizkit — "Shotgun" Review 4.5 out of 5 stars". Artistdirect. June 6, 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Gold Cobra at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Reactions may vary, but Limp Bizkit don't care". Deccan Chronicle. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  22. 1 2 Anderson, Kyle (2011-06-24). "Albums: July 1, 2011". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  23. ↑ Martin, Dan (June 21, 2011). "NME Reviews - Album Review: Limp Bizkit - 'Gold Cobra'". Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  24. ↑ Fantano, Anthony (July 7, 2011). "Limp Bizkit- Gold Cobra ALBUM REVIEW". Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  25. ↑ Barkan, Jonathan (June 27, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit 'Gold Cobra'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  26. ↑ Firecloud, Johnny (June 20, 2011). "Blowin' up the septic tank, y'all!". antiquiet. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  27. ↑ Firecloud, Johnny (June 21, 2011). "Gold Cobra rebuttal: Wes Borland Vs. antiquiet". antiquiet. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Limp Bizkit - Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "LIMP BIZKIT's 'Gold Cobra' Cracks U.S. Top 20". BlabberMouth.
  30. ↑ "Classifica italiana FIMI del 27 giugno 2011". Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  31. ↑ "Charts.de: Album: Limp Bizkit: Gold Cobra". Media Control. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "OLiS: sales for the period 04.07.2011 - 10.07.2011". OLiS.
  33. 1 2 Что слушали россияне в 2011 году: Культура: Lenta.ru
  34. ↑ "Album Jahrescharts 2011" (in German). MTV. December 31, 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  35. ↑ "Album Jahrescharts 2011" (in German). MTV. December 31, 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  36. ↑ "Album Jahrescharts 2011" (PDF) (in Russian). Lenta. December 31, 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
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