Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Angela Hurter (freelance) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 02:49:51 GMT

Since I'm an old Voice of Destruction (V.O.D.) fan I was at every single gig Kobus! played up here in the north on their Swaar Metaal launchtour, and, as Loyd so correctly states in his review, we were bearing witness to SA music history being made right before our eyes. Kick-Asssss!

Who'd have thought a vocalist that's almost twice the age of most of the local hopped-up clonebands' frontmen would calmly slink onstage and utterly dispell any doubt as to who the master is. After the first song!?

Kobus! is without a doubt bringing back the excitement and powerful live performance we so sorely lack in our local scene at the moment.

The power of Francois' voice is evident in the way he effortlessly switches between vocal techniques at the drop of a hat (or is that the drop of a blow-up sex doll!?) He's a raging, sweating monster onstage, belting out intelligent lyrics with the lungs of a demon one moment and then an unexpected, clear and controlled voice the next.

Theo, the Springbok Nude Girls reason for achieving all they have thus far, makes it all look so easy, cranking, thrashing and chopping heavy heavy heavy riffs from his Fender with a tornado of blonde hair spraying the audience with sweat with every bang of the head. Ok, so you may think playing the guitar with your teeth during a (mindblowing) guitarsolo is cheesy, but how many people can you name that could actually pull it off for real?

Paul, like Francois also a V.O.D. legend, provides the thunderous drumbeat, making the ashtrays wobble off the barcounter with his double- kickdrum work while new bassist Pierre pounds the fourstring with an almost menacingly calm aura.

This is pure showmanship, people.

Entertainment (yes entertainment, not just 'playing a gig') is finally making a long overdue comeback and its' flagbearer is named KOBUS!

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Katvrou — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 03:36:12 GMT

After about two hours in the early hours of Thursday, April 5, my eardrums and eyeballs stopped bleeding. But I can still see the inside of my skull.

I do believe K.O.B.U.S.! is the official killer of apathy.

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Lloyd — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:23:13 GMT

Fuck Yeah, Thanks Angela and Katvrou. Kobus! rock indeed and rock hard! They blew the competition out of the water and Francois told me that there will be a lot more to come this year.

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Rick De La Ray — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:04:19 GMT

After the show a few stunned people were staggering around not too sure about the whole ordeal. i for one went home, curled up into my pillow as cold sweat ran down my forehead, i have witnessed their band many times in the past and i realised once again what an insuficiant human being i am...

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Lloyd — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:29:10 GMT

You said it Rick! Kobus! are the future!

re: Kobus! live at the Bohemian: The Swaar Metaal Launch

Katvrou — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:53:29 GMT

And it took me exactly two weeks before I could really stomach SwaarMetaal. I was too stuck on killers such as "Roulied", "Karel Void" and "Die Swart" to think that something heavier and utterly bone-crushing would work. "Drankduiwel" due to be included on Francois' solo album, was also something that wouldn't scare little children or make the womenfolk of the village chase K.O.B.U.S.! down the street with pitchforks and flaming torches.

SwaarMetaal is their core. Because "Hoenderman" sure as hell ain't. Thank heavens. ;-)

They must be so bloody sick of the pikkeeeekkk!! noises, hah hah. I don't think they want to perform it anymore, but people still want to hear it. Just like Rammstein must be sick of "Du Hast" -I'd much rather hear more of "Eiffersucht" or "Rein Raus" or even "Mutter", but the crowds want the big hits. And what would a band be without a big hit?

Mind you. K.O.B.U.S.! creates for a niche market. They'd never really identify with a hit. It's more of a STIRRER.

HELL YEAH. STIR SOME MORE, METALMANIACS. OR ELSE THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY.

*Shot, Rick. You fit it all in one sentence. We're not worthy.

<grin>