Maps of Music

Gold Cobra (2011)

Where the lyrics of Gold Cobra take you, and where it was really made.

Limp Bizkit's fifth album was made with Wes Borland back in the lineup, yet it turned out to be the band's last album for a decade.

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Gold Cobra: fifth studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit
First studio album since 2003's Results May Vary
First album with the classic lineup since 2000's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
Eclectic, diverse sound that still resembles the band's earlier albums in style
Featured the single "Shotgun"
Last album for a decade, until the band released Still Sucks in 2021

2004: The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) recorded with returning member Wes Borland
John Otto was replaced by Sammy Siegler for much of that album
Band went on hiatus after the Greatest Hitz release
Borland said a sequel to The Unquestionable Truth was unlikely
2009: band reunited with Borland on guitar and launched the Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour
During the tour, Durst announced that a new album with Borland had begun recording, titled Gold Cobra

A spoken intro written by Durst and performed by Kiss member Gene Simmons was recorded
The intro was left off the completed album
Additional "non-album" tracks were recorded, including "Combat Jazz" with rapper Raekwon
The sound focuses on Borland's guitar work rather than turntablist DJ Lethal
Sam Rivers' bass playing mixes elements of jazz and funk
The intro "Introbra" features distorted air raid sirens

Limp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida.
Formed in 1994 by Fred Durst and Sam Rivers; John Otto joined soon after and Wes Borland later.
The band developed a cult following in Jacksonville's underground scene, notably at the Milk Bar.
Korn added the band to tours, exposing it to a wider audience; DJ Lethal joined as turntablist.

Current lineup: lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, and turntablist DJ Lethal.
Founding bassist Sam Rivers died on October 18, 2025.

Debut album Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997) was released on Flip Records with Interscope distribution.
Significant Other (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000) brought mainstream success; the latter set a first-week sales record for a rock album.
The band was marred by controversy at Woodstock '99 and the 2001 Big Day Out festival.
Borland left in 2001 and rejoined in 2004; Gold Cobra (2011) followed the 2009 reunion.
Still Sucks (2021) was released on October 31, 2021.
The band has nominated for three Grammy Awards and sold 40 million records worldwide.

Metacritic: mixed or average reviews, weighted average 53 out of 100 from 11 critic scores
Artistdirect (Rick Florino): 5 out of 5 stars, calling it everything fans hoped for
AllMusic (Stephen Thomas Erlewine): positive review, calling it a return to the full-throttled attack of Three Dollar Bill Y'All
Metal Hammer (Terry Bezer): praised the hot material that makes listeners bounce in the mosh pit, with the odd duff moment aside
Consequence of Sound (David Buchanan): entertaining, boastful, non-alienating nostalgic bliss for former LB fans
Bloody Disgusting (Jonathan Barkan): positive, saying the album sounds fantastic and does exactly what it sets out to do
IGN (Chad Grischow): far from the band's best work, but suggested the 2005 Greatest Hitz album may have been premature
About.com (Tim Grierson): the group's strongest album since Significant Other
Entertainment Weekly (Kyle Anderson): called it an oft-delayed, petulant, hook-devoid comeback
Antiquiet: negative review, initially giving 1 out of 5 stars

Borland responded to the Antiquiet review, saying that as far as LB records go, Gold Cobra is perfect
Borland said a 1 out of 5 rating would fit only if listeners expected OK Computer

Billboard 200: No. 16, with 27,000 copies sold in the first week in the United States
Billboard Albums: No. 3 Rock Album, No. 11 Digital Album, No. 2 Alternative Album, No. 1 Hard Rock Album, No. 21 Tastemakers Album
Second week overseas: No. 7 Swiss Album Charts, No. 8 Austrian Album Charts, No. 24 Canadian Albums Chart, No. 1 German Albums Chart

Borland said the title Gold Cobra has no meaning and was chosen because it fit the style of music the band was writing.
A spoken intro performed by Gene Simmons was recorded for the album but left off the finished record.
"Combat Jazz", featuring Raekwon, was a non-album track recorded during the sessions.
"Walking Away", "Loser" and "Shotgun" feature guitar solos by Borland, something Limp Bizkit is not known for.
Artistdirect described the single "Shotgun" as an anthem.
Durst's new album with Borland was first announced during the Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour in 2009.