While G.I. Joe-adjacent cartoon metal band Cold Slither “shook the world” a few weeks back with a revamped version of their eponymous Eighties-era metal anthem, the hard rock mercenaries have now leveled up their sonic espionage with their first new tune in decades. It’s a self-referential anthem that they call “Knock Em Dread.”
Described in a press release as “a rebellious roar of loyalty, chaos, and untamed spirit,” the title to Cold Slither’s latest retro-galloped metal number is a sly nod to the fact that group — per G.I. lore — are not full-time musicians, but rather comprise master disguiser Zartan and his un-merry band of badniks, the Dreadnoks.
The tune churns through a classically hard-swung arrangement full of gun-fire riffage and shred-tastic soloing, while the lyrics lay out the fact that Cold Slither are a bunch of misfits and “bayou freaks” just itchin’ to “watch the world burn.” And if you happen to be “Yo Joe-in’” your way through life, you may lose your head at the hands of the Dreadnoks.
You can peep an animated video for the tune, which finds the Cobra-sworn ‘Noks buzz-sawing through fighter planes and rippin’ through the desert on their choppers, up above.
As previously reported, Cold Slither’s upcoming debut album is a cross-promotion between toymakers Hasbro and Reigning Phoenix Music, with more music to be delivered ahead of this summer’s San Diego Comic Con.
While the details have yet to arrive in full, new press materials confirm that Hasbro and Super7 will be collaborating on some action figures, while there will also be a Skybound comic one-shot and more musical “mayhem brewing across streaming platforms” soon.
“It is a dream come true to be able to work on this amazing collaboration with my favorite, and one that happens to be one of the most iconic brands in the world: G.I. JOE,” Reigning Phoenix Music general manager and co-founder Gerardo Martinez had previously said in a statement.
San Diego Comic Con runs July 24th-27th.