In Thorns showcases their more radio-friendly side with new single “cobra effect”

Finland, Jyväskylä-based metal collective In Thorns released their new single “cobra effect” on Friday, September 11.

The band’s debut album, released in 2024, laid the foundation for their sound, a more refined and heavier evolution of which has already been heard on this year’s singles “exit wounds” and “wormhusk”. Their third single of the year, “cobra effect”, shifts direction and reveals a more radio-friendly side of In Thorns. The track is the third release from an upcoming four-song EP.

“cobra effect” explores the nature of addiction and how the very same thing that helps you survive can also pull you deeper. In the end, is it really about how long you can keep fighting, or about what you are willing to let go of? The song’s composer, guitarist-vocalist Aavee Tikkanen says:

“With this song, we wanted to explore the nature of addiction. I feel that, as human beings, we are remarkably susceptible to becoming dependent on different things, often without even realizing it ourselves. Addiction can take almost endless forms, and many of the things we become hooked on may seem relatively harmless from the outside. Others, however, can be extremely dangerous.

Addiction often stems from some kind of inner emptiness or pain. The song emphasizes the idea that using an addiction as a way to fill that void or numb the pain ultimately does nothing but intensify the suffering we experience and deepen the addiction itself.”

Musically, however, the song found its starting point in the world of pop. Tikkanen continues:

“The inspiration for the composition came from MØ’s ‘Blur’. I felt that a hook that catchy simply had to be harnessed into metal somehow. I wanted to challenge myself to write an entire song around a single hook that worked. The result ended up being the lightest song of In Thorns’ career.”

The lyrics were created through a collaboration between Tikkanen’s original vision and In Thorns vocalist Kristian Ruutala. Throughout the song, addiction is explored through imagery of witchcraft, enchantment and the occult. Ruutala says:

“Aavee had a strong vision of witchcraft and the imagery surrounding it that he wanted to bring into the song. I wrote the first version of the chorus, and pretty quickly we managed to shape it into its final form together as a band. Aavee then built the verses around it. In my opinion, this is lyrically the finest chorus we’ve had in an In Thorns song so far.”

“cobra effect” continues In Thorns’ series of releases in 2026 and sets the stage for the band’s final release of the year.

Follow the band via these links: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok