7/10
Nowadays, when watching a newly-released horror movie, we are likely to find plenty of slow, screeching pianos and violin chords. Back in the 80s however, in the heyday of horror slashers, action films, science fiction, and cult classics, horror movie soundtracks were oddly unsettling yet upbeat electronic rhythms. The cheesy 1986 action-horror cult classic, Cobra, starring Sylvester Stalone, was no exception to this 80s style, and Swedish musicians, Videogram, do an excellent job of paying homage to the film and capturing that cheesy sound in their EP, Cobretti.
“Cobretti,” the first song on the three-track EP, encompasses 90s cinema more so than 80s cinema. It has a similar sound and feeling to thrillers of the time, such as British New Wave film Trainspotting. It’s a high energy track that would fit perfectly into any action sequence, and would be perfect to play when working out. Much like the other two tracks on the album, it is likely to stay stuck in your head for a while after you listen to it.
Next on the album comes “The Night Slasher,” which will transport you back to the 80s and the Stalone film, though it somehow simultaneously feels a little more modern than the movie’s original soundtrack. Though it’s as repetitive and energetic as the first track, it manages to maintain the unsettling feeling of a good 80s horror soundtrack, at times sounding like the works of Charles Bernstein and John Carpenter.
Finishing off the EP, “Videogram feat. D.A. Medina- Cobretti End Titles” is the best track on the album, with a distressing feeling similar to that of the second track. The album as a whole is a teaser for the upcoming full-length album from Cineploit, and is sure to get you curious for the release. Though the tracks stray away from the glam-rock sounds that were frequently featured in the original Cobra soundtrack, they capture its overall essence and go as far as improving it. The album is a must-listen for anyone wishing for a flashback to the 80s.
Written by Franca G. Mignacca
Leave a Reply