Gold Cobra | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 28, 2011 | |||
Recorded | August 2009 – March 2011 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:37 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Fred Durst | |||
Limp Bizkit chronology | ||||
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Singles from Gold Cobra | ||||
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Gold Cobra is the fifth [1] studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2011 by Flip and Interscope Records, it is the band's first studio album since 2003's Results May Vary and its first with the full original lineup since 2000's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water . Gold Cobra features an eclectic and diverse sound, but is also similar in style to the band's earlier albums. The album, which featured the single "Shotgun" and received mixed reviews, sold 27,000 copies during its first week in the United States and peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. [2] [3] This was their last album for a decade, until the band released Still Sucks in 2021.
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. [4] Following the release of the band's Greatest Hitz album, the band went on hiatus. [5] [6] 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." [5] In 2009, Limp Bizkit reunited with Borland on guitar and launched the Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour. [7]
During the tour Durst announced that they had begun to record a new album with Borland, titled Gold Cobra. [8] [9] 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. [9] 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. [10] [11] The band also recorded additional "non-album" tracks, including "Combat Jazz", which featured rapper Raekwon. [11]
The music of Gold Cobra was generally described as nu metal, [12] [13] [14] and has been noted as a return to the established sound of Limp Bizkit's earlier albums. [15] [16] However, the album features noticeable variations from the band's established style for a more eclectic sound. [17] Unlike Significant Other , Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water and Results May Vary , Gold Cobra does not feature any guest vocalists, except for two of the bonus tracks, and the album's sound predominately focuses on the guitar work of Wes Borland rather than that of turntablist and sound designer DJ Lethal. [16] Sam Rivers' bass playing incorporates elements of jazz and funk, [18] while Borland's guitar playing incorporates a variety of influences, ranging from heavy metal and hard rock to electronic music [17] and DJ Lethal's keyboards and samples give the album a sound that is both melodic and abrasive. [17] 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. [19] Interludes on the album incorporate elements of hip hop and jazz. [14] [19]
"Bring It Back" differs from Limp Bizkit's established sound by being slower and heavier than the band is generally known for. [19] "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". [19] "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. [19] "Shotgun", influenced by heavy metal music, has been described as an anthem by Artistdirect. [20] "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. [12] [16] [19] "Loser" combines the softer sound of "Walking Away" with rapped verses, [12] [19] and is followed by a heavier track, "Autotunage", featuring Durst singing in autotune, [15] [19] and "90.2.10", which incorporates a thrash influence. [19]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 53/100 [21] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [15] |
About.com | [17] |
Artistdirect | [18] |
Consequence of Sound | [12] |
Entertainment Weekly | C− [9] |
IGN | 7.0/10 [16] |
Kerrang | [22] |
NME | 1/10 [23] |
PopMatters | 8/10 [13] |
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 53, indicating "mixed or average reviews", based on 11 reviews. [21] 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". [18] 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 ". [15] 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." [19]
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". [12] 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." [24] 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." [16] About.com writer Tim Grierson called Gold Cobra "the group’s strongest since Significant Other". [17]
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. Antiquiet published a negative review which described the album as "music for the sneering scumbags who find kinship in the dregs of cultural rot". [25] The website initially gave the album 1 out of 5 stars. [26] 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." [27]
Gold Cobra charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 charts with 27,000 copies sold in the first week in the United States. 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. [28] In its second week of release overseas Gold Cobra was No. 7 on the Swiss Album Charts, No. 8 on the Austrian Album Charts, No. 24 on the Canadian Albums Chart [29] and No. 1 on the German Albums Chart. Although the album initially charted, total lifetime sales in the U.S. have barely topped 60,000 – indicating Limp Bizkit's popularity had plummeted since the early 2000's.
All lyrics are written by Fred Durst; all music is composed by Limp Bizkit (Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto and DJ Lethal)
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Introbra" | 1:20 |
2. | "Bring It Back" | 2:17 |
3. | "Gold Cobra" | 3:53 |
4. | "Shark Attack" | 3:26 |
5. | "Get a Life" | 4:54 |
6. | "Shotgun" | 4:32 |
7. | "Douche Bag" | 3:42 |
8. | "Walking Away" | 4:45 |
9. | "Loser" | 4:53 |
10. | "Autotunage" | 5:00 |
11. | "90.2.10" | 4:18 |
12. | "Why Try" | 2:51 |
13. | "Killer in You" | 3:46 |
Total length: | 49:37 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Back Porch" | Durst, Boney B.eats | 3:22 |
15. | "My Own Cobain" | 3:40 | |
16. | "Angels" | 3:20 | |
Total length: | 59:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Los Angeles" | 2:53 |
Total length: | 62:50 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
17. | "Middle Finger" (featuring Paul Wall) | Wall, Durst | Mathematics | 4:27 |
Total length: | 64:24 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
17. | "Combat Jazz" (featuring Raekwon) | Mathematics | 2:37 |
Total length: | 62:34 |
Limp Bizkit
Production
Charts (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart [29] | 12 |
Austrian Album Chart [29] | 2 |
Canadian Albums Chart [29] | 13 |
Italy [30] | 58 |
German Albums Chart [31] | 1 |
Polish Albums Chart [32] | 24 |
Russian Albums Chart [33] | 3 |
U.S. Billboard 200 [28] | 16 |
U.S. Billboard Digital Albums [28] | 11 |
U.S. Billboard Rock Albums [28] | 3 |
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums [28] | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Hard Rock Albums [28] | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Tastemaker Albums [28] | 21 |
Chart (2011) | Position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums Chart [34] | 57 |
German Albums Chart [35] | 66 |
Russian Albums Chart [36] | 45 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Germany (BVMI) [37] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Russia (NFPF) [33] | Gold | 5,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Europe | June 24, 2011 |
| Interscope |
United States | June 28, 2011 | ||
Japan | June 29, 2011 | ||
Brazil | July 19, 2011 | Universal |
Limp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's musical style is marked by Durst's angry vocal delivery and Borland's sonic experimentation. Borland's elaborate visual appearance, which includes face and body paint, masks, and uniforms, also plays a large role in Limp Bizkit's live shows. The band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, sold 40 million records worldwide, and won several other awards.
William Frederick Durst is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and director. He is the frontman and lyricist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, formed in 1994, with whom he has released six studio albums.
Results May Vary is the fourth studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on September 23, 2003, through Flip and Interscope Records. It is the band's only release under the sole-leadership of vocalist Fred Durst after the temporary departure of guitarist Wes Borland, who left in 2001. Guitarist Mike Smith of Snot was brought in to replace Borland, although his time with the band was brief, and Durst along with a number of guests ended up handling the majority of the album's guitar work.
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water is the third studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit. Released a year after the success of Significant Other; the album saw the band attempt to capitalize on their newfound mainstream success. It was released on October 17, 2000, through Flip and Interscope Records, setting a record for the fastest selling rock album upon release at the time. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart in the United States, selling 1,054,511 copies in its first week alone. The album ultimately sold over 6.7 million copies in the United States alone as it would also go onto receive platinum certification in 13 countries, selling a further 10 million copies worldwide.
Wesley Louden Borland is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and backing vocalist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative and industrial rock band Black Light Burns, and the co-founder of the experimental metal band Big Dumb Face.
Significant Other is the second studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit. It was released on June 22, 1999, through Flip and Interscope Records. It saw the band expand their sound from that of their 1997 debut Three Dollar Bill, Y'all to incorporate further metal and hip hop influences, but with a more melodic and less hardcore punk-influenced sound.
Three Dollar Bill, Y'all is the debut studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on July 1, 1997, through Flip and Interscope Records. It established the band's trademark sound with the singles "Counterfeit", which was influenced by hip hop and heavy metal, and "Faith", a cover of the 1987 song of the same name by George Michael. Limp Bizkit's rearrangement of the song incorporated scratching by DJ Lethal and heavier guitar playing by Wes Borland.
The Unquestionable Truth is the first EP and fifth major release overall by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on May 2, 2005, through Flip and Geffen Records. Produced by Ross Robinson, it was the first release by the band since Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water (2000) to feature guitarist Wes Borland, who rejoined the band in August 2004 following a three-year absence. Drummer John Otto was absent for much of its production, and Sammy Siegler took over drumming duties for the band.
Greatest Hitz is a compilation album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2005, it is a retrospective compiling material from the band's albums Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997), Significant Other (1999), Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000) and Results May Vary (2003).
Black Light Burns was an American industrial rock band fronted by Wes Borland. Founded in 2005 after Borland departed Limp Bizkit, the band's lineup also includes Nick Annis, Dennis Sanders and Dylan Taylor. Their debut album, Cruel Melody, was released in June 2007 to critical acclaim. They released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in the summer of 2008 titled Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey. After a temporary hiatus, the band regrouped in 2012 and released their second album, The Moment You Realize You're Going to Fall in August. The band released a concept album, Lotus Island, in January 2013.
"Boiler" is a song by the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit. It was released in July 2001 as the fifth and final single from their third studio album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. Guitar World described the song as "an old-school, L.L. Cool J.-style rap ballad".
"Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" is a song by the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit from their album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. It was released as the second and third single simultaneously, along with "My Generation", on September 5, 2000. The song peaked at number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving the band their highest-charting single in the US, and remained on the chart for 17 weeks. Internationally, "Rollin'" topped the charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.
"Counterfeit" is the debut single by American rap rock band Limp Bizkit, released in August 1997. It is from their debut album Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997). Notable for showcasing guitarist Wes Borland's experimental playing style, the song was written by Borland, DJ Lethal, Fred Durst, John Otto and Sam Rivers as a response to local bands that copied Limp Bizkit's style.
Greatest Videoz is a DVD by American band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2005, it is a companion to the band's compilation album Greatest Hitz. The DVD compiles music videos from the band's albums Three Dollar Bill, Yall$, Significant Other, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Results May Vary and The Unquestionable Truth .
Rock im Park 2001 is a live album and DVD by the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2008, it features a performance from June 1, 2001, by the band at the Rock im Park festival in Nuremberg, Germany. In the UK, it was released as an album with a bonus DVD containing video of the performance, while the video was solely released as a DVD in the United States.
The Gold Cobra Tour was a tour by American rap rock band Limp Bizkit, taking place in support of their album Gold Cobra, beginning in 2010. It was the band's first promotional tour for the new album after their original line-up reunion tour in 2009, and their first North American tour since the Results May Vary Tour in 2004.
"Shotgun" is a song by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit from their fifth studio album, Gold Cobra (2011). Notable for showcasing the guitar playing of Wes Borland and production by DJ Lethal. Written by Fred Durst, Borland, DJ Lethal, John Otto and Sam Rivers, the song describes sitting at home brandishing a shotgun.
Collected is the second compilation album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit. Released in 2008, it a retrospective compilation album from the band's albums Three Dollar Bill, Yall$, Significant Other, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Results May Vary and The Unquestionable Truth .
Still Sucks is the sixth studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on October 31, 2021, through Suretone Records. Work on the album began in 2012, but the album lingered in development hell for the next nine years. The album's lead single "Dad Vibes" was premiered at the end of a performance at Lollapalooza on August 2, 2021, and officially released on September 30, 2021, marking their first brand-new material to be released in seven years.
"Ready to Go" is a song by the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit. The single features rapper and then label-mate Lil Wayne and is produced by Polow Da Don. The single is Limp Bizkit's first release for Cash Money Records after their departure from Interscope in 2011. The song was released in March 2013 as a free download on the band's website and, on April 16, as a digital single on iTunes and Amazon.