Christian Bakka Larson

Night Cobra

The future is now, but is it? The past already kicked everyone in the ass once, but what about the future? Dystopia is part of a process, some would say imaginative, because no one is going to really let this one slide and just happen right? A lot of questions and wanderings, probably with not end in sight. Night Cobra is where dystopia lies, a possible future that nobody wants but has to look at it with open eyes and learn. Steinmetal had a good chance to talk with Christian Larson, also known as Bakka, about the band's debut album, " Dawn Of The Serpent". Bakka has been around for sure, and his devotion to old school Metal is right there for grasps.

By Lior "Steinmetal" Stein

• February 28, 2022

Night Cobra's Christian Bakka Larson: "A lot of books and movies that were released in the 60s & 70s are already turning out to be reality currently. Add in the pandemic and the worlds just keeps spiraling towards it" interview

Hello Bakka, it appears that your captive hold has been reaching far into yet another act, it is good to have you once again for another chat. How have you been?

All has been well, just staying really busy between the bands and my festival Hell's Heroes. It's a good thing though just have to budget out my time, so I don't go crazy.

We had a chance to talk a bit due to the new album of your other band, Necrofier, and now, turning into the more traditional side of Metal music, which has also been part of you, with your history, in the image of Night Cobra. Let's talk about motivation, since you pretty much covered old school Metal from several fronts, whether traditional, or on the extreme, what led to the foundation of Night Cobra?

Night Cobra started with the intention of doing something traditionally metal based with some punk / rock n roll influence. It actually started previous to Necrofier but we took our time shaping the music and image for a little longer behind the scenes. Also, I am very into science fiction in the vein of cyberpunk and the band really started to take form for me when I incorporated these elements. It feels like the world is currently one step away from these tech noir stories so it felt right to write songs based around it.

In your initial vision of how Night Cobra should look, feel and sound, what did you have in mind back when it all started? Did that same vision remain as you planned or rather took a different turning?

I wasn't exactly sure on the imagery behind the band when we first started, only on musical direction. It kind of developed on its own and needed to do something different than Necrofier or anything I have done in the past. Ever since the idea came, I just keep flowing with ideas.

In your view, and I am sinking a little deeper into the meaning of what stands behind, or rather represents Night Cobra, is there a specific direction that the band is going with its philosophical views? What is the main idea behind the band?

Main focus behind the band is that we are headed towards a dystopian future or in some aspects are already there. A lot of books and movies that were released in the 60s & 70s are already turning out to be reality currently. Add in the pandemic and the worlds just keeps spiralling towards it. I break off from these basic ideas and all the songs are related to the topic. Night Cobra is a band for the city streets & neon lights.

You got lucky with your early EP, since it was worked on prior to the pandemic. What can you tell in regards to what you have learned from this experience? How did it strengthen the chemistry between the band members? How did each member find his place in the development of the songs?

The pandemic really gave us a chance to just jam as a band and figure out how we work together best. With no pressure or distraction of playing shows we just got to work on new music. Also, since a lot of things were closed and there was nothing to do, we got extra rehearsal times that we wouldn't have been able to do in regular life. We made the best use of the down time and I think it really shows on the new album.

That same EP guaranteed you a contract with the German old school label, High Roller Records. Since you already have experience with being signed to a European label, and I assume that it is quite great to be near the heart of everything that is Metal, how does the label take you forward in relation to your expectations from it?

I have loved High Roller for forever and it was really exciting to finally release a record with them. They will be able to help expose us to all the heavy metal maniacs in Europe. Also, hopefully this means we will be able to come over and tour when the worlds go back to easier touring times.

"Dawn Of The Serpent" is the title of your debut album, as if the rising of evil, and from what it shows on the cover, over a futuristic kind of surroundings. Land of dystopia. Is this the coming of the band being the serpent, or is there a different sort of symbolism to the cobra?

The snake symbolizes rebirth. The world you grew up in is not the same as it is today. Many people are trying to hold onto it but it's just not the case. Mankind is failing and so is the earth. Curious to see what the future brings us.

You mention a dystopian future, other than probably being a sci-fi fan, what do you foresee in our society's future, in light of the record? Are you just telling stories, examples of what could have happened, or is it like poking people's eyes out to show them that their reality is shaping up badly into something destructive?

It's a little bit of both. Of course, I love science fiction, but everything seems to be making these stories science fact. Pollution of the planet, disease and most of society living on the internet are all signs of where we are headed. I don't think civilization will end but everything will be dramatically different coming up. Just overpopulation alone is going to make every different, with all the other factors in who knows what will happen.

I found the record, in overall, to be the rougher edge of Traditional Metal, crossing the British style, giving it a tougher tone, upon its melodic form. Other than that, there is a chilling, and also darkened atmosphere that looms above, a kind of a deadly sensation. How do you find the development of Night Cobra over the course of "Dawn Of The Serpent"?

I glad you picked up on that because that's exactly the direction we were going for. The darkened atmosphere is all about what we talked about in the last question. I wanted to try to portray that feeling into the overall feel of the album. It's not a hopefully album for the world. Musically we pushed harder on the nwobhm element than the EP as well.

In regards to the haunting, and I might even add a dramatic turn of events, within the atmosphere of the songs, there is that great feel of King Diamond meets Mercyful Fate, which in my view there is that focus on the typical insanity character of the former. How do you find this sort of theatrical element as an impacting factor in Night Cobra, and in "Dawn Of The Serpent" in particular?

The dramatic factor comes into play with lots of influence from cinema. It helps portray that dystopian feel in my opinion. I have always loved it when vocalists do different characters and don't stick to only style of singing so this is something I rehearsed and felt strongly to do on this album.

We talked about things that you learned from your experience with the previous EP, and for "Dawn Of The Serpent" you present fresh new material, without reusing the earlier songs, therefore, can you say that you implemented some of what you have learned in process of EP and made it happen on the full length?

Of course, every time I record something with any band, I pick up new tricks or ideas and write them down or mentally store them for how to do things in the future. To grow as a band or an artist things like these are key.

The sci-fi effects on the album, especially on the opening track, "Run The Blade" and the instrumental haunter, "Acid Rain", really had me chilled. It was like reliving classic movies of the 80s all over again. It felt shocking at first, yet impressive in general. In your view, how did it serve the purpose of these tracks, in particular of the latter?

I wrote both these to give it the chilling effect and to also add more of a cinematic feel to the album. The songs are already dark but with these synth parts interjected I really feel it brings it together. Also, this style of synth music goes hand in hand with the dystopian feel.

The sound of the record is raw, yet it pierces, especially the near saw blade guitars. There is a kind of a nod to the obscurities that were made in the 80s, quite impressive. Who was the one behind the board for "Dawn Of The Serpent"? What do you make of the band's sound on the album, how does it reflect the message that you set out?

Dobber from Necrofier & Oceans of Slumber was behind the board on the album. Since we are close friends and play in another band together it was easy for me to convey the atmosphere I was trying to create. Dobber is an amazing engineer, and we are actually in the process of setting up our own studio. So more to come !!!!

"For Those Who Walk The Night" had me thrilled, a hooking track, with a maniacal attitude, blasting with great riffs, with a soloing effort that cannot be ignored. Certainly, one of the album's memorable features. How do you find this track? What can you tell in regards to its creation process and its impact on the record?

This is almost one of my favorite tracks on the album. It has a dark and epic feeling that really stands out to me. It's almost dedicated one of my close friends that passed away last year, Barnaby Struve. He was an amazing human being and I miss him every day. When we play this song, I can always feel his presence.

Since there is a chance that things are starting to open up again, and it can be felt in Europe to a certain extent, how does it look in the US? Are you planning anything special for this coming year, maybe taking on your local scene with a series of shows?

So far, we are doing Hell's Heroes & Metal Immortals in the USA and Keepers of the Flame in Mexico City!!! Talks of a tour later this fall in the USA too. Hopefully Europe at some point but waiting for things to calm down just a little bit more before we journey to the other side of the pond.

Bakka, again, it was good to have you for another talk, and also for a new band, which is always awesome. I wish you all the best, cheers.

Thank you again!!!