COBRA SPELL: Hard rock / heavy metal from the Netherlands
Interview conducted on
By Dan Locke
Heavy metal newcomers COBRA SPELL — featuring current and former members of Idle Hands, Burning Witches, Spellcaster and others — are proud to announce their debut EP Love Venom, due out Sept. 4 via an independent release.
Capturing the sound and attitude that conquered the Sunset Strip, the band’s four-song debut paints a glistening image of night-life fun, reckless lust, and sleazy love. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Alejandro Gabasa Barcoj (Leather Heart), Love Venom features all the dual-shred guitar licks, soaring vocals, and thunder-like rhythm you would expect from a newcomer in the NWOTHM scene.
COBRA SPELL is:
Alexx Panza – vocals
Sonia Anubis – guitar
Sebastian “Spyder” Silva – guitar
Angelina Vehera – bass
Mike “Lucas” Verhof – drums
What is your upbringing?
Sebastian: I’m a Mexican born musician residing in Portland, Oregon. Moved to America in 2005, and began a new life of opportunities.
Sonia: I was born in the Netherlands, grew up in Spain with my mother and brothers for 11 years, later on I moved back to my father in the Netherlands again, where I still live now.
How did you discover music?
Sonia: Pretty much by curiosity honestly. I knew about the existence of KISS because I saw them once on TV, and from there I looked them up on Youtube and become really obsessed. I was 14 years old then. After discovering KISS, I started looking for more shock rock artists, and from there I discovered metal music too.
Sebastian: My best friend at the time in 5th grade, he told me about Guns N’ Roses and I began to fell in love with hard rock music.
Prior to that, my only knowledge of music was Mexican/Spanish pop music such as Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Thalia, Soda Stereo, Julieta Venegas, Alex Ubago, etc.
How did you start to write music?
Sonia: Sebastian and I have a very good connection together as musicians and have a very idealistic view of what we want, and we were very sure that it would work well in a band together. This was back in summer of 2019. With this idea, Cobra Spell emerged.
From that point I started writing the first compositions.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
Sonia: My real first guitar was an Epiphone Flying V in black. I bought this guitar in secret because I was not allowed to get one by my father. I hide it under my bed. But when my father found out, I had to sell it, so I don’t have it anymore. Later on, I got a Schecter Omen-6 gifted by my grandmother!
Sebastian: My first electric guitar was a Yamaha cheap electric, and during my last year of school, I fully customized it with scalloped frets, swirl paint job and killswitch button. It became a mixture of all my favorite shredders at the time (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, STEVE VAI, BUCKETHEAD) sadly, I don’t know where the guitar ended up.
What is your favorite guitar (year, make and model)?
Sebastian: I love ALL Jackson guitar shapes, but my favorite and most sought after is the 2001 Jackson Kelly Star guitar. Only made for one year and been discontinued ever since.
Sonia: My favourite guitars are the Jackson Warrior models, certainly the ones with a head up. And the Jackson Double V that Vinnie Vincent used to own. That one was insanely awesome.
What are you’re feeling about classic guitars like a 1959 Gibson Les Paul?
Sebastian: To be honest, I used to hate Les Paul guitars. I thought they were too heavy and too expensive and just overhyped, but during recording with my other band Idle Hands, I got the chance to use a Gibson Les Paul, not sure what year, and I changed heart then. Don’t judge a book by its cover, I guess! I still might never play one live, due to the specs of them not being like what my Jacksons are, but who knows what the future holds.
Sonia – You played bass at first and switch to guitar why?
Sonia: The reason that I started playing guitar as well was because I felt in love with the guitar solos from MARTY FRIEDMAN in the band MEGADETH. It was something I could not replicate with a bass. So, I really had to grab the guitar to do so. It was not a direct switch though. I have been playing both for a while. But now I am just guitarist since there are no bands, I play bass at. There is no particular reason why.
Sonia – You been a web developer for over 4 years. Why did you give it up to search out a career in music?
Sonia: Music is my biggest passion, and is what makes me really the happiest! That’s why I believe that the best for me is to spend 100% of my time on it. To hopefully in the future to reach my dreams. I don’t want to waste my time on a job that doesn’t make me as happy just for security or the money.
What computer languages do you know?
Sonia: I worked a lot with frameworks such as React.js and Vue.js so my main languages were mainly JavaScript, HTML, SASS and PHP for back-end.
Sonia – How did you get the idea of creating a YouTube channel?
Sonia: I started uploading on my Youtube channel like around a year after starting with playing bass-guitar (I think 2014). I saw a lot of musicians play covers and I wanted to do that too, I thought it looked cool! It is like playing homage to the artists we look up to in our own little way. I realize we can learn a lot of covering music, such as the approach of other guitarists playing.
What do you feel is your best cover on the channel?
Sonia: I think my best cover might be the Mötley Crüe – Girls Girls Girls guitar cover!
What was your first performance at like?
Sebastian: My first performance is best left forgotten in the past. It was at a local teen club in this town called Oregon City. We were called ‘Torture’ back then, and there was no one in the crowd, except some kids who just wanted to make fun of us. I was singing and playing guitar at the time, and I could see them laughing and I got so mad that I threw my guitar down and ran out and pushed them off their chairs. I let my emotions get the best of me, and later on, I apologized to these guys and they became close friends of mine. Just like the band name, it was Torture for me to even think I did such a horrendous, embarrassing thing.
Sonia: My first show was with Dutch Old-school Deathmetal band ECOCIDE. I was a bass player there. We played in a little venue named Ostbünker in Osnabrück, Germany. First show in a different country! It was a very exciting experience and I was very nervous.
But once onstage, my nerves went away. I became addicted to the feeling of being onstage and I only want more!
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Sonia: The first original song that I wrote for COBRA SPELL is the song ‘Love Venom’, the title track of our new EP.
How did Alice Cooper help form your band?
Sebastian: Sonia and I got a chance to see ALICE COOPER and meet him after the show through a fan of Sonia’s. We explained to him our idea of making a heavy metal project to express our mutual passion for 80s music, and ALICE COOPER was kind enough to give us very powerful and encouraging words as well as some tips and how to never give up.
How the band did get its name?
Sonia: Sebastian and I were joking around with band-names. Such as, “if we would have a band…how would we name it?” I remember having the idea of the name ‘Voodoo Lynx’, and later we had ‘Cobra Spell’ in mind! We loved the idea of the cobra in the name because it’s a very symbolic animal.
Cobra Spell’s first EP titled ‘Love Venom’ is set to be released on 4th September. How did you come up with the title of your new album “Love Venom”?
Sebastian: The name was being thrown back and forth during the making of these songs. I can’t quite remember if we already had the ‘Poison Bite’ name at the time, but from the Cobra’s bite comes the injection of the ‘Love Venom’, that is how my mind remembers it, at least!
The first single ‘Poison Bite’ will be publicly available this weekend 23rd of August. Why did you decide to release this single first?
Sebastian: Ever since Sonia began to show me the demo tracks of ‘Poison Bite’ I told her this was the single without a doubt. There was no lyrics or vocal lines yet, it was just guitar, drums and bass, but I fell in love with that guitar harmony at the beginning, and it reminds me so much of a mixture of X JAPAN, RATT and M.A.R.S.
Very powerful, upbeat, exciting… that’s what you want as the first single.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Sonia: Poison Bite and Love Venom.
Sebastian: It’s hard to say, because having worked on these songs is like having to pick between your favorite child, but to me, it’s a tie right now between ‘Shake Me’ and ‘Poison Bite’.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Sebastian: That is something I feel like I am barely beginning to grasp as a concept. Before it was a lot of drinking and eating insane amounts of food, but your body gets old and can’t process what you give it as much as it did when you were younger. So, Sonia and I have stopped drinking, and as for myself, I am watching what I eat more carefully. Getting plenty of exercise is important too, especially after being in the van for so long during tours.
Sonia: I do exercise on daily base with core exercises before sleep, and try to eat healthy as much as I can.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Sebastian: I think it’s a double edge sword. It’s a very vital part of today’s music world, while at the same time it’s making it hard for some artists to make what they used to with physical album sales. But also, more bands are able to upload their songs with their self-distribution, so a lot more music is out for people to discover. I think there needs to be some sort of reform for these streaming services to pay artists decent percentages.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Sonia: Digital on the road. Vinyl on location.
Sebastian: They both have their pros and cons. I prefer digital for its simplicity and accessibility. I used to have a big vinyl collection that I got rid of (or stolen) a while ago. Vinyl is neat to have because it’s a tangible thing. You can read the album liner notes, admire the art and various other things. I am glad to see that vinyl is making a comeback in the music world as it seems to be pretty popular right now.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Sebastian: It is long overdue. People are tired of being mistreated by their color of their skin or their upbringing. Here in my city of Portland, they are on day 90 of consecutive protesting. There is a lot of injustice in this world that a lot of Americans are not aware of due to ignorance or privilege. The people protesting are wanting to be heard, and if we want this to be a country that is really ‘with liberty and justice for all’, then we have to look hard in the mirror and face the social injustice problems with a willingness to change, willingness to forgive and willingness to grow.
Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?
Sebastian: I have a younger brother who is facing this dilemma at the moment. I don’t think they should, not in America, at least. We have the options to still homeschool kids during these hard times, and I fully understand that by having the kids at home, they might miss out on social experiences, face to face learning and engaging with others, as well as being a challenge for parents to find the time and help to home school their kids. But times are tough right now, and it will be hard on everyone, but it is for the best to tough it up and stay home than to risk losing a precious young life due to our negligence.
Are you still doing private guitar lessons?
Sonia: I do! I give guitar lessons through Skype. For interest, mail: [email protected]
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Sonia: The song ‘Gods of Wrath’ by METAL CHURCH. It’s a beautiful “slow” song by them. It gives me a lot of memories to when I first got into music and went to my first metal shows ever.
Very great times. It gives me a fresh mind and motivation to keep on going.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Sonia: Well, it is already been affecting the music/culture business a lot, certainly in financial perspective. For both the musicians and the promoters. All we can hope is that it can only go for the better in the future. I am hoping that this situation makes people realize the importance of social events and overall cultural activities (such as concerts and festivals). We realize how meaningful it is when we don’t have it anymore!
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Sebastian: Working on myself, as well as working on COBRA SPELL and my other bands. Lots of guitar playing, mostly.
Sonia: Playing lots of guitar, giving guitar lessons and working on my bands COBRA SPELL and CRYPTA.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Sonia: I used to do gymnastics, and I am going to do it again starting on September, I am very excited!
Sebastian: I have tried to get back into skateboarding and soccer, but I think I will never be able to skate at the competitive level I once was.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Sebastian: Sonia and I often have Netflix dates since we are so far away from each other. It’s a great way to unwind and relax with her.
Although, I have tried to watch a movie or series on my own from time to time, but get so overwhelmed with the volume of choices available.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. What are you planning to do?
Sonia: In COBRA SPELL we have 2 members living in a different country. Sebastian lives in the USA which currently closed the borders. So, if we wanted to rehearse or at least be together it would be impossible due to the Covid situation. So, we have to wait until USA open’s its borders. But we are already planning on a lot of stuff, such as play throughs, music video, and more new material for a full-length follow-up.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Sonia: I am not really sure how that works financially. But honestly, venues and promoters are not earning anything with it anyway if I’m right. So, it is only beneficial for that App and for the Artists/ Musicians. It’s not the same as live performances either! It’s a good alternative for the current situation though.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
Sebastian: It will be a challenge for sure. You can bet all production will go out the window, no longer will you see a great spectacle such as Alice Cooper, Kiss or King Diamond in those settings. Not only is there no space to do it, but with having door guarantees and all the crew needed for shows like this, I just don’t see it happening, and I don’t want to live in a future where I go see Alice Cooper and he isn’t getting decapitated, or seeing King Diamond without his album stories coming to life with his stage show.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
Sonia: Regarding festivals for the coming months, yes. I am really hoping that the situation worldwide doesn’t worsen. I hope next year we can enjoy the festivals again!
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sebastian: It will be a trial and error. It might work for some, but not all bands are made for a holographic experience. I could see myself watching a Holographic ‘Scale The Summit’ or ‘Animals As Leaders’ show because I go see them for their extremely precise musicianship, but with big entertainment acts with such a grandeur stage show, it will not work. Unless people find a way for me to feel Nikki Sixx’s bass flames up close like I did when I saw Motley Crue live, then it won’t work. The magic would be lost.
SO – How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Sonia: We are hoping to conquer many metal hearts around the world! We hope to play our favourite big scale festivals, release more music, tour worldwide and have a lot of fun!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Sonia and Sebastian: Thanks a lot for having us and for all the readers! We appreciate everyone for the great response to COBRA SPELL and we hope to bring you our live show very soon. We are dying to play shows!! Stay heavy!
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