Caught somewhere in time - A review of Kobra and the Lotus' Prevail I

Kobra and the Lotus is a female-fronted Canadian heavy metal quartet that finds an intriguing balance between traditional heavy metal of the eighties with gripping and melodic guitar play and a more contemporary touch with alternative and industrial breakdowns, streamlined riffs and occasional sound effects. Prevail I is the band's fourth studio record and the first part of a duology.

The record offers several great songs such as the fast, melodic and refreshing ''Hell on Earth'' that should please heavy, power and thrash metal fans of yore, the more contemporary ''Victim'' with its minimal electronic sound effects and very melodic and commercial vocals that could please to fans of the gothic genre and the slightly sinister ''Manifest Destiny'' that offers contemporary alternative metal on a high level that should strike a chord with younger audiences.

The outstanding element of the band are the melodic and variable vocals by Kobra Paige. She neither fits into the classically trained symphonic metal stereotype nor into the rough and grounded type of female metal vocalist. Her harmonious vocals could also fit to pop music and I mean this as a compliment. Her style really is quite unique.

On the negative side, Prevail I isn't as vivid as the band's live concerts. The production is a little bit too mellow, most songs are only focused on strong choruses and the rhythm section isn't given the occasion to shine. Due to the fact that the band constantly meanders between traditional and modern metal, Prevail I doesn't fully convince in either category. Traditional metal fans might find this release too soft and simplistic while fans of contemporary metal might find the riff work and guitar solos somewhat old-fashioned and predictable.

In the end, Prevail I is a record that is enjoyable to listen to with ten consistent tracks and a clever running time of just above forty-five minutes. On the other side, despite its eclectic mixture of genres, great guitar work and unique singer, the record isn't too memorable. It's fun while it lasts but nowhere near as memorable as the band's much heavier live performances. I would recommend this record to fans of melodic hard rock and heavy metal with a modern touch. Imagine a better version of Battle Beast and you know what to expect from this release.

Final rating: 72%

Flirting with symphonic rock, pop and new age - A review of Kobra and the Lotus' Prevail II

Kobra and the Lotus' Prevail II is a slight improvement over the first chapter of the duology. While the second part is even more melodic and mellow than its predecessor, it has a clearer guiding line and much better flow. On the other side, the album goes even further in its experimentation as the traditional heavy metal band includes more new age and pop influences in its eclectic and intriguing sound.

''My Immortal'' is such a courageous song. It's an appeasing track with soft vocals recalling a mixture of new age singers Enya and Loreena McKennitt. While the title of the aforementioned song might recall symphonic rock band Evanescence, ''Heartache'' actually recalls the music of said band with its uplifting voals, strong pop vibe and dreamy piano melodies. ''Human Empire'' sees the band enter symphonic metal territory since the track is particularly adventurous, epic and rich, recalling veterans like Epica.

There are still a few more aggressive tracks on the album for fans of traditional heavy metal like the engaging opener ''Losing My Humanity'' or the fast and oppressive ''You're Insane'' that combines vivid instruments with melodic vocal lines and catchy sing-along passages that could make this song a future concert highlight.

However, Prevail II doesn't really qualify as a heavy metal record overall and even someone who is interested in new age and pop elements might think that the cheesy acoustic version of ''Let Me Love You'' with its predictably stereotypical vocals is going a little bit too far. Overall, I would categorize this release as melodic rock album.

Prevail II represents two steps in a new direction. The first step leading towards a more melodic, mellow and focused guiding line is very positive. The second step that flirts with symphonic rock, pop and new age might go a little bit too far. If the band could find a balance between the first and the second part of the duology, it could finally define its genuine own identity.

In the end, it would have been better to release one single strong record instead of two albums with some filler material. A potential track list of one single record entitled Prevail could have looked like this:

1. Hell On Earth

2. Manifest Destiny

3. My Immortal

4. Human Empire

5. Victim

6. Heartache

7. You're Insane

8. Prevail

Final rating: 77%