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	Nu metal, rap metal, alternative metal
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 (2014)
Singles from Gold Cobra
"Shotgun" Released: May 17, 2011 "Gold Cobra" Released: June 7, 2011

Gold Cobra is the sixth studio album by American rock band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2011 by Flip/Interscope Records, it is the band's first studio album since 2005's The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), 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 to positive reviews, sold nearly 100,000 copies in the United States, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. Critics praised the return of Borland, and the band's unique sound.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[1] Following the release of the band's Greatest Hitz album, the band went on hiatus.^[2][3] 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."^[2] In 2009, Limp Bizkit reunited with Borland on guitar and launched the Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour.^[4]

During the tour, Durst announced that they had begun to record a new album, which Borland titled Gold Cobra.^[5][6] 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.^[6] 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.^[7][8] The band also recorded additional "non-album" tracks, including "Combat Jazz", which featured rapper Raekwon.^[8]

Music and lyrics

The music of Gold Cobra was generally described as nu metal,^[9][10][11] and has been noted as a return to the established sound of Limp Bizkit's earlier albums.^[12][13] However, the album features noticeable variations from the band's established style for a more eclectic sound.^[14] 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.^[13] Sam Rivers' bass playing incorporates elements of jazz and funk,^[15] while Borland's guitar playing incorporates a variety of influences, ranging from heavy metal and hard rock to electronic music^[14] and DJ Lethal's keyboards and samples give the album a sound that is both melodic and abrasive.^[14] 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.^[16] Interludes on the album incorporate elements of hip hop and jazz.^[11][16]

"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.^[16] "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".^[16] "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.^[16] "Shotgun", influenced by heavy metal music, has been described as an anthem by Artistdirect.^[17] "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.^[9][13][16] "Loser" combines the softer sound of "Walking Away" with rapped verses,^[9][16] and is followed by a heavier track, "Autotunage", featuring Durst singing in autotune,^[12][16] and "90.2.10", which incorporates a thrash influence.^[16]

Reception

Commercial

Gold Cobra charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 charts. 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.^[18] In its second week on the charts, the album dropped to No. 56 on the Billboard 200 and sales had tailed off with 72% and down to 8,000 copies.^[19] In its second week of release overseas Gold Cobra was No. 7 on the Swiss Album Charts, No. 8 on the Austrian Album Charts and No. 24 on the Canadian Albums Chart.^[20] By the end of the year, the album sold 100,000 copies in the United States,^[21] and was at No. 1 on the German Albums Chart.^[22]

Critical

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	53/100[23]
Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[14]
Allmusic	[12]
Artistdirect	[15]
Consequence of Sound	[9]
Deccan Chronicle	favorable[24]
Entertainment Weekly	C−[25]
IGN	7.0/10[13]
PopMatters	8/10[10]
Rock Sound	7/10[11]
The Needle Drop	Hummus
The Village Voice	mixed [26]
Under The Gun Review	8.5/10 [27]

Gold Cobra has received mixed to positive reviews.^[23] 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".^[15] 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.^[12] 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."^[16]

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".^[9] 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."^[28] 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."^[13] About.com writer Tim Grierson called Gold Cobra "the group’s strongest since Significant Other".^[14]

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."^[25] Antiquiet published a negative review which described the album as "music for the sneering scumbags who find kinship in the dregs of cultural rot".^[29] The website initially gave the album 1 out of 5 stars.^[30] 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."

Track listing

Charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

Limp Bizkit

• Wes Borland – guitars
• Fred Durst – vocals
• DJ Lethal – turntables, keyboards, samples, programming
• John Otto – drums
• Sam Rivers – bass

Production

• Todd Douglas – business affairs
• Cory Durst – photography
• Cliff Feiman – production supervisor
• Brian Frank – marketing
• Susan Hilderley – business affairs
• Alex Rhees – marketing
• Dave Schiffman – mixing, recording
• Jordan Schur – management
• Liam Ward – layout
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Boney B.eats – additional production on "Back Porch"
• Hayes – additional production on "Shotgun"
• Wes Borland – cover art design, art direction, illustration
• Fred Durst – producer, management, art direction

Release history

References