Ass Cobra
Encyclopedia
Ass Cobra is the Norwegian
punk rock
band Turbonegro
's 1996 studio album
, their third full-length. It was first released on Amphetamine Reptile Records
in Europe in early May, then on Boomba Records in Germany
and in 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry
in the USA. It was re-released in 1998 on Bitzcore Records (Germany) and on Get Hip Records
(USA) and in 2003 on Epitaph Records
(USA) and Burning Heart Records
(Sweden
).
& glam
territory - in the spirit of proto punk pioneers à la The Dictators
, The Ramones or late Iggy & The Stooges - plus a bit of New York Dolls
' travesty thrown in. Ass Cobra paves the way harshly, with a sinister wash of cymbals, loud guitars and articulate riffs — think Poison Idea
meets Alice Cooper
. It is here, also, where Turbonegro developed their signature look: sailor caps, denim from head to toe, mustaches all around, and decidedly butch homoerotic accoutrements. Though Turbonegro did quite a bit of recording prior to this album, Ass Cobra set a new pace for the band, and enabled them to record what is by many fans considered to be their masterpiece, Apocalypse Dudes
. Moshable magazine remarked: "The very best in obnoxious drunk punk, already a classic buy-or-die thing!"
All songs composed and performed by TRBNGR except "Raggare Is a Bunch of Motherfuckers" (The Rude Kids), "Mobile Home" (The Lewd) and "Young Boys Feet" (The Dicks
).
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Turbonegro
Turbonegro
Turbonegro is a Norwegian punk rock band that was initially active from 1989 to 1998, and later reformed in 2002. Their style combines glam rock, punk rock and hard rock into a style the band describes as "deathpunk"....
's 1996 studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, their third full-length. It was first released on Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
in Europe in early May, then on Boomba Records in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and in 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
in the USA. It was re-released in 1998 on Bitzcore Records (Germany) and on Get Hip Records
Get Hip Records
Get Hip Records is an independent Pittsburgh based music label and distributor formed by Gregg Kostelich in 1986. Kostelich used the label to release music by his own band, The Cynics, as well as other local, indie and retro garage rock bands.-Releases:...
(USA) and in 2003 on Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
(USA) and Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America...
(Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
).
The sound
Ass Cobra featured a move towards mid-'70s punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
& glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
territory - in the spirit of proto punk pioneers à la The Dictators
The Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth." The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio...
, The Ramones or late Iggy & The Stooges - plus a bit of New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
' travesty thrown in. Ass Cobra paves the way harshly, with a sinister wash of cymbals, loud guitars and articulate riffs — think Poison Idea
Poison Idea
Poison Idea was an American hardcore punk band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980. The band originally dissolved in 1993, but has been playing intermittently since 1998.-Formation, 1980's and 90's:...
meets Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. It is here, also, where Turbonegro developed their signature look: sailor caps, denim from head to toe, mustaches all around, and decidedly butch homoerotic accoutrements. Though Turbonegro did quite a bit of recording prior to this album, Ass Cobra set a new pace for the band, and enabled them to record what is by many fans considered to be their masterpiece, Apocalypse Dudes
Apocalypse Dudes
- Line-up :* Hank Von Helvete - vocals* Euroboy - Lead Guitar* Rune Rebellion - Rhythm guitar* Pål Pot Pamparius - Keyboards and percussion* Happy-Tom - Bass guitar...
. Moshable magazine remarked: "The very best in obnoxious drunk punk, already a classic buy-or-die thing!"
Track listing
- "Dazzling Display of Talent" – 2:01
- "The Midnight NAMBLA" – 1:36
- "Deathtime" – 2:20
- "Black Rabbit" – 1:21
- "Denim DemonDenim Demon"Denim Demon" is a single from the Norwegian band Turbonegro from their 1996 album Ass Cobra released on 7" Vinyl in 1995 by Munster Records.The back sleeve shows a pic of Turbonegro's fairly unknown afro wig look. Munster re-issued this single in June 1998 due to public demand....
" – 2:11 - "Bad Mongo" – 2:32
- "Mobile Home" – 2:05
- "I Got ErectionI Got Erection"I Got Erection" is a single from the Norwegian band Turbonegro from their 1996 album Ass Cobra released on 7" Vinyl in 1995 by Hit Me! Records, which was run by long time Turbo-photographer Morten Anderson....
" – 2:06 - "Just Flesh" – 3:09
- "Screwed And Tattooed" – 3:22 (bonus track on the SFTRI release only)
- "Hobbit Motherfuckers" – 1:22
- "Sailor Man" – 2:00
- "Turbonegro Hate the Kids" – 3:04
- "Imorgen Skal Eg Daue" – 2:32 [en: Tomorrow I'll die)
- "RaggareRaggareRaggare is a subculture found mostly in Sweden and parts of Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Austria...
Is a Bunch of Motherfuckers" – 3:01 - "Young Boys Feet" – 1:14 (bonus track on the SFTRI release only)
All songs composed and performed by TRBNGR except "Raggare Is a Bunch of Motherfuckers" (The Rude Kids), "Mobile Home" (The Lewd) and "Young Boys Feet" (The Dicks
The Dicks
The Dicks are an American punk rock band from Austin, Texas, originally formed in 1980. They initially disbanded in 1986 before reforming in 2004...
).
Line-up
- Hank Von HelveteHank Von HelveteHans Erik Dyvik Husby , also known as Hank von Helvete, Hertugen and Hærtis, most famous for being the former lead vocalist of the Norwegian death-punk band Turbonegro. While not explicitly addressed to date, the name Helvete was adopted due to its meaning "hell" or "a place of suffering" in...
(Hans Erik Dyvik Husby) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Pål Pot Pamparius (Pål Bøttger Kjærnes) - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Rune RebellionRune RebellionRune Rebellion is the stage name of Rune Grønn, a guitarist from Verdal, Norway, born 1965, he is most famous of being the former rhythm guitarist of the Norwegian band Turbonegro, which he quit in Oct. 26. 2007, and played his last show in Folken in Stavanger the day after. However, he returned in...
(Rune Grønn) - Guitar - Bingo (Bengt Calmeyer) - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Happy-TomHappy-TomThomas Seltzer , better known by his stage name Happy-Tom, is the bassist and main songwriter in the band Turbonegro, famous for wearing feminine makeup and a sailor's uniform....
(Thomas Seltzer) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Credits
- Morten Andersen - Photography
- Sean Bovine - Engineer
- Rich Burnette - Engineer
- Christian A. Calmeyer - Engineer
- Erik Hanisch - Engineer