HARDWARES

Calgary’s KOBRA AND THE LOTUS have been creating quite a buzz in just three years’ time, most likely due to some cunning PR and non-stop touring, including numerous European festival appearances. The band’s 2010 independently-released debut album, Out of the Pit, doesn’t really do the band justice as it sounds nothing like their current Gene Simmons-endorsed, self-titled sophomore effort. Getting the obvious out of the way first, 23-year-old classically-trained vocalist Brittany “Kobra” Paige is hot, plus she has the pipes, attitude and passion to back it up. The most blaring change from their first album is Paige’s powerful, vibrato vocal delivery. She consciously changed her style to suit the music with a more controlled technique. Her capable band pull out all the stops, too. The album contains loads of double axe noodling, layered vocal harmonies and great fist-pumping anthems decorated with NWOBHM and Euro power metal influences executed with precision. Their first single/video, ‘Welcome to my Funeral,’ which began circulating earlier this year, has turned some heads and pricked up some ears for sure. ‘Forever One” is layered with flange/wah-wah guitar effects amidst chugging riffs and epic gang chants. The band injects some old school trad metal influences with a little bit of new school philosophy on the 10 tracks. Highlights: ‘Welcome to My Funeral,’ ‘Forever One,’ ‘My Life.’ Honorable mention: ‘Nayana,‘ ‘50 Shades of Evil.’