Erik Wunder, known for his music with Cobalt and Man’s Gin, has passed away at 42.
Messages poured in from friends like Blake Judd and Ken Sorceron, who both shared memories on their socials; Judd said, “I’m absolutely devastated,” and finished with, “Erik Wunder, rest easy brother. I am so grateful for our times together.” Over on Instagram, Chris Bruni from Profound Lore Records posted a line from A Farewell to Arms: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” He added, “REST IN POWER Erik Wunder of Cobalt/Man’s Gin… you goddamn outlaw. Wow, what a ride….”
Before all this, Wunder started out in a project called Grimness Enshroud with Phil McSorley, but after a quick name change, Cobalt was born, and Wunder once said, “we wanted a name that didn’t entail anything. Something basic. Something elemental. The name ‘Cobalt’ leaves room for any variety of directions.” He played every instrument except vocals on their first album, War Metal, which arrived in 2005.
That same year was busy—Wunder also kicked off Man’s Gin with Clint Kamerzell, writing songs, playing guitar, handling drums, and singing. Their EP The Rum Demos made some noise in Colorado but never really got out there. At the same time, Cobalt put out more records on Profound Lore, like Eater of Birds in 2006, and then Gin in 2009, which was inspired by Hemingway and came out just as Kamerzell left Man’s Gin.
Fans always wonder how musicians can do so much at once.
In 2009 and 2010, Wunder hit the road with Jarboe and ended up bringing Joshua Lozano and Scott Edward into Man’s Gin. They dropped Smiling Dogs in 2011 and Rebellion Hymns in 2013. Then, after some drama online, Wunder removed McSorley from Cobalt in 2014 and brought in Charlie Fell, who he’d met while touring with Jarboe.
Cobalt’s last album, Slow Forever, came out in 2016. Around that time, Grayson Haver Currin wrote that Cobalt made “blackened metal that felt more dangerous than the work of so many satan-worshipping acts steeped in fantasy and make-believe.”
