Year Of The Cobra – Self Titled

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · March 19, 2025

Year Of The Cobra is a two piece band based in Seattle, Washington. Consisting of Amy Tung Barrysmith on bass guitar and vocals and Jon Barrysmith on drums, the husband and wife duo are a full sounding and superb band. The heavy doom metal/ psychedelic sludge rock band formed in 2015 and have three albums released. Their debut 2016’s …In The Shadows Below and 2019’s Ash And Dust are now joined with their latest third, Self Titled album. Released on Prophecy Productions on February 28th 2025, the album contains eight tracks in about forty one minutes.

This is my first experience of Year Of The Cobra but I am familiar with the talents of Amy Tung Barrysmith. Last year’s Slayer tribute band Slower, features Amy singing on both, the Self Titled (review here) and the follow up Rage And Ruin (review here) albums. She also plays the bass on the latter. Her strong and powerful alto rich range of a voice is striking in her execution and ability to capture the raw emotion of a song. I thought I was ready for what to expect with the Year Of The Cobra’s sound but I was not fully prepared. The dynamic duo crushes like a full scale band of at least four members. The sound is massive and the way they approach and deliver the music is huge and spectacular in every way.

“Full Sails” starts with a warm and fuzzy bass riff that drives into a sludgy doom rhythm once the drums enter. The heaviness that Year Of The Cobra derive from only two band members is extraordinary, to say the least. Had I not known the circumstances of this band, there is no way that I would have guessed that. Amy has a crushing bass sound that amplifies amazingly into a full rhythmic tone in which nothing sounds sub par or lacking. Jon’s drumming is hard pounding with an elaborate precision which covers a lot of areas. The drums sound heavy and devastating on this record. “Full Sails” has a distinctive heavy doom metal sound which is enhanced with Amy’s dynamic and angelic voice. Her vocals can be soft and subtle and soaring and powerful. The song sets the tone for the rest of the album in such a big way with its heavy and plodding rhythms. “War Drop” has a more upbeat and rocking groove. The bass driven verses are accentuated with a heavier chorus crunch. The bass tones are so delightfully viscous with the bombastic drumming from Jon to unify. The vocals are their own instrument in which Amy brilliantly manages while performing all of the heavy riffing.

The third track “Daemonium” expresses some deep lyrics dealing with sexual violence and such. The song plows through with a sheer intensity and rocking vigor. The vocals range from a higher register to a more subtle tone, dazzling between both with ease and conviction. “Alone” begins with drums and has a softer harmonic tone to the bass guitar. The more trebly sound is inviting for the beautiful vocal tones which color the song. The drums are busy with their percussive pounding and elegant transitions. The song does draw in the heaviness as it moves along and elicits a brief musical pause just before the five minute mark. The song kicks back in heavy for an elaborate closing to the track.

The fifth song, “7 Years” is another banger! It has a catchy chorus melody with Amy’s stellar vocals commanding the flow. The band even displays heavy accents with bass harmonies in between. It still blows my mind on what the two piece can accomplish musically. Year Of The Cobra craft some of the finest stoner doom that I have heard in years. “The Darkness” explains my point with the brutal intro riff oozing with fuzz. The song encapsulates all the elements that make Year Of The Cobra sound so satisfying. Heavy swampy doom drenched in distortion and an enthralling melody to accompany it with. The band are excellent songwriters, leaving no doubt whatsoever that they are proprietors of the riff and all the sonic fixings that envelop it. “Sleep” is another fantastic song, elaborating more on their ability to construct such rhythmic soundscapes in all of its glory.

The eighth and final song on the band’s Self Titled third album is the seven and half minute closure “Prayer”. It has a dark and melancholic feel with emotive vocals, which crawls at a slower pace. The song delivers some synthesized orchestration towards the end that emphasizes the build up and caps off an exceptional album. Year Of The Cobra are a band that knows who they are and what they want to accomplish. They are definitely one of the most engaging and mammoth sounding two piece bands that has ever existed. What they are capable of doing as a duo is so impressive and magnificent that a lot of bigger bands would be envious in what these two can accomplish with their riveting sound.