Review: Kobra and the Lotus – Prevail I
Prevail I is Kobra and the Lotus’ fourth full length record, and could turn out to be something of a milestone for the group. Having slaved away for a number of years on the road and in the studio, the band finally attracted the overtures of Napalm Records, who distribute both this record and the planned second part, tentatively scheduled for release later in the year. Clearly confident and ambitious, this two pronged attack could well land Kobra and co in a position of strength in the heavy metal realm.
Not a bunch to be perturbed by the change in label backing, Kobra and the Lotus go about business as normal with Prevail I. There’s no drastic changes in sound, with the band still focusing on to the point heavy metal anthems. There’s perhaps a more accessible sheen to a handful of the tracks, but overall the record stays true to the formula that landed the group in this position, with Kobra Paige’s taking centre stage for much of the duration. She mostly sticks to her mid range, with her presence and power making up for the lack of vocal acrobatics (not that they’re really required). Long time guitarist Jasio Kulakowski provides a backdrop of punchy riffs, with the rhythm section holding steady. Truth be told, the instrumental side is a largely unspectacular affair. There’s some inspired moments for sure, and some nice little nuances and touches here and there, but the music is rarely the focal point, serving more as support to supplement Paige’s work and to help provide contrasts in mood and tone.
The opening combo of “Gotham” and “Trigger Pulse” settle into the group’s standard groove nicely, with two mid tempo songs to get the head banging; the simmering riffs and hi hat work in the latter the sort of aforementioned nuance that makes all the difference. This sets us up for the first commercial foray in the shape of “You Don’t Know”, which skirts into more modern rock/alt metal territory, with a sparse, vocal centric verse and fantastic melodic crescendo in the chorus. “Victim” takes a similar approach, bearing a close similarity to Disturbed with the riffing style and vocal cadence. Ballad “Light Me Up” is a tad predictable with the soft verse, heavy chorus approach, but the vocal melodies are strong enough to overcome this drawback. The abundance of vocal hooks is definitely one of the album’s strongest points, with nearly every song having a chorus that’ll lend itself well to a live sing a long.
Of course, Kobra and the Lotus are a metal band at heart, and there’s plenty of cuts that show they haven’t forgotten this. The meaty “Specimen X”, with its blistering opening riff and splendid solo section, is one of the best songs here, tussling with the title track for the throne. The melodic opening of the latter lays the foundations for a rousing anthem that ends the album on a high. The instrumental “Check the Phyrg” is also a straight laced metal song, and allows the band to show off their chops. And show them they do, and although you can’t fault the technicality on display, the song doesn’t really go anywhere. The same can be said for the forgettable “Hell on Earth”, whereas the slightly stilted “Manifest Destiny” takes a few listens to show its true quality.
Whilst Prevail I really do anything new, it is undoubtedly Kobra and the Lotus’ strongest album to date. It retains their hard and heavy edge whilst also offering a slightly more accessible sound, thanks to improved songwriting and plethora of catchy hooks. Part II has a lot to live up to, but that can wait. For now, let’s just sit and bask in the quality of part I.
Rating: 8/10
Highlights: “Specimen X (The Mortal Chamber)”, “Prevail”
Links: Facebook, Official Website
Prevail I is available worldwide now, via Napalm Records.
