I should get Kowloon Walled City's new one - Gambling on the Richter Scale - in the mail very soon. If it's not in the mail already (still need to check - my mailbox is halfway across the earth), it will probably arrive tomorrow.

I'm pretty excited about it. I pre-ordered the whole set/package - shirt, black/silver LP, CD. I've been watching the KWC guys put everything together through their blog and twitter, and they announced they were shipping pre-orders eight days early. I got my shipping notification the next day. Assuming it's not in the mail yet, but tomorrow, they're five days ahead of schedule. Them's good business.

In less direct to artist fashion, I also pre-ordered other albums due to be released September 29th. God Is Good by the band OM was one of them. I didn't care all that much about OM before, my appreciation has been pretty limited to songs like "Flight of the Eagle", but this album is too "good". Doomriders also has an album out 9/29, but I decided to skip it over until I've established a clear base with them.

Of course, from all of my love-talk in the direction of Black Cobra since my first listen of "Sugar Water" last year, you should know that I pre-ordered their new album: Chronomega. Assuming amazon behaves, I should have the album sometime in the next two weeks.

I woke up today and found it had leaked.

I have the time today, so... Why not make a song-by-song "live" listening post?

(breathes) Here we go.

1. Negative Reversal.

Immediate thought: doesn't sound wildly different from the myspaced version. It'll probably clear up in experience in time, although I'm scared this might be a bad rip. Obviously I've heard this before, so there's not much to say. It's familiar to BC's earlier speedy heavy stuff.

space.

2. Machine.

Yeah, this sounds like a bad rip. Now I'm pissed off. Would it kill you leakers to maybe listen to your copies before spreading them everywhere? Maybe even tell us in advance that though it says it's 160kbps, it's really 96?

I'll keep going, but yeah... if BC did this on purpose to their sound, they made a really shitty move and should be punched in the face for being a disgrace to themselves.

This song sounds like it's going to need some time to sink in. I'm sure it would sound heavier and more stompy than "fuzzy" if it sounded right. Chaos does come out from the guitar, though...

3. Catalyst.

Here comes the BC opera. Myst soundtrack, like one of those "scary", ambient electronic rooms you're supposed to be looking for something but you have no idea what it is. Uh-oh, here comes music. Now we're black metal. Oh, thank god, we're not black metal anymore. I can get behind this. It's on par with all that love I used to talk about, and still... wtf? sweeet. ... That was great. I like this one for sure.

Fucking great. Even sounds awesome in shittiest quality ever.

Very doomy after all that ambiance... what we like about BC.

I drink too much tea break time!

Second listen: yes, like.

4. Chronosphere.

Dead world?

http://cnc.wikia.com/wiki/Chronosphere

Maybe time world.

Headbanging material. Like that guitar sound. Really easy to get into. Got that stoner rock/metal driving feel. I think the vocals might actually sound somewhat relevant to the song. PETTING MY BOBO.

Yeah. Yeah. Really nice, here.

5. Zero Point Field.

Right off, testing the drummer's ability to not fail at his job. Kind of wavers into a slower pattern after that. Not as immediate as the last two tracks, but still pretty nice. ... Then there's a musical interlude. I'm expecting it to return to something. Will it?....No.

6. Lightning In His Hand

Torche? SAVIOURS?! heh!

The 1:30 back and forth thingy is nice. Something about it sounds really familiar, not sure where from.

The middle-end is ...familiar Black Cobra territory. That's me not saying "nice" again.

Another break. Cookies.

7. Storm Shadow

Well, hi there. I didn't see you come in. Thanks for breaking down my door. I didn't need that, anyway.

...The little boys are going to lose their shit when they hear this live. I'm going to have to wear body armor.

Nice. Very, very nice.

8. Glacies en Spiritu

Wow, there hasn't been any real low point on this album yet. It's all 'intense' except for that piece in front of "Catalyst" so far.

Again, semi-clear vocals that might be important to the song.

9. Nefarian Triangle

OMG acoustic Black Cobra! lol.

...and it picked up, too.

The ending is sort of quiet... very much in contrast to the rest of the album.

(blink)

And that's it.

Well, since it wasn't the quality expected, this album is a lot like the first time I saw them live. The sound limitations of the room wasn't right for them, and though I got into them live and really enjoyed it, their set seemed too short and I was left wanting much more. On first listen, I already know I'm going to be listening to this a lot - especially once my CD arrives and I can rip this album for myself.

Time will tell how it holds up against their EPs. With the lack of quiet periods or subtlety, so far it seems more chaotic and intentionally striking than the previous two. I'm looking forward to my vain attempt towards figuring out the lyrics, and, of course, hearing this album performed live.

If you haven't bought this already, be sure to do so soon.

In conclusion, my love... for Black Cobra... still so vast.