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 KOBRA AND THE LOTUS High Priestess By Wendy Jasper, Black Metal Aficionado Wednesday, June 18, 2014 @ 11:32 AM
Vocalist Brittany “Kobra” Paige, a classically trained singer, delivers a vocal
performance to rival any male frontman of the genre. Pitch perfect, clear and powerful are
the first words that come to mind when you hear her. After the band finished touring in 2013
they immediately booked studio time with MEGADETH producer Johnny K and went
straight to work on new music. Much of the music the band wanted to record had been
fleshed out by Paige and guitarist Jasio Kulakowski and they were more than ready to
share it.
What comes from such intense recording sessions is High Priestess. It is
available on June 24th and it has been worth the wait. It yields ten songs full of blistering
riffs and thundering drums overlaid with Paige’s soulful vocals.
The music contained on the disc continues to unleash an aural assault on the listener as it
moves into tunes like “Heartbeat”, “Hold On” and the title track. “High
Priestess” is special to Paige as it is one that she wrote on her own and has
personal meaning to her. “Soldier” is a high point on the record and the band
taps into their medieval roots with “Battle Of Wrath” and
“Visionary”.
The CD nicely closes out the track listing with “Willow” and “Lost In The
Shadows”. The band’s self-titled big label debut was a kick in the gut for many metal
fans who had doubts about a woman’s right to rock, but Paige very succinctly obliterated the
nay-sayers. Many wondered if she could do it again. Not only has she done so, she has
surpassed the expectations. It can be said that she is held in the same esteem as veteran
female metal singers like Doro Pesch, Leather Leone (CHASTAIN) and Ann Boleyn
(HELLION).
KOBRA AND THE LOTUS kick off a summer North American tour as direct support for
KISS and DEF LEPPARD. Their live show is not to be missed and it has recently
been discovered that former WHITE WIZZARD guitarist Jake Dreyer will be joining
the band for the tour. Dreyer will fit in perfectly with them and his shredding style will
admirably compliment Kulakowski onstage. If you are able to catch them in your town you
should make the effort to see them.
In any case, make sure you get a copy of High Priestess. It will keep you
riveted through all ten songs.
4.5 Out Of 5.0
Preorder your copy of High Priestess right now in the KNAC.COM More
Store HERE.
KOBRA AND THE LOTUS Tour Dates:
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The album opens with “Warhorse” and moves seamlessly into “I Am, I
Am”. Both tunes are heavy and melodic. What is interesting is that the heaviness of
most tunes on the album does not shield the listener from the fact that Paige and Kulakowski
have definitive influences derived from the most renowned of the metal masters like IRON
MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST while also delving into the progressive power metal genre
pioneered by bands like BLIND GUARDIAN and HAMMERFALL. This is a well-rounded
metal album by a band that is not afraid to pay homage to their idols while taking that
classic sound and making it their own.
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