The Cobra Killer duo of Gina V. D'Orio and Annika Trost began as part of Alec Empire's Digital hardcore movement. Both were part of other bands signed to Empire's Digital Hardcore Recordings label—D'Orio was in EC8OR, and Trost was in Shizuo. Cobra Killer was arguably one of the most playful DHR bands, in contrast to the revolutionary bombast of most.

When Empire's label cut back on its bands, many of the DHR groups folded, but D'Orio and Trost kept going. They have released four albums and are currently on the Monika Enterprise label.