Tag: king kobra

King Kobra are another band that pops up occasionally to release a record. It has been ten years since the last one, and there was a gap of 23 years between the third and fourth album. They were a working touring band for the first three albums but then they became a project band that filled a gap in between the schedules of its members.

The only guy who played on all the albums is Carmine Appice. He is joined here by guitarists Carlos Carvazo and Rowan Roberson, Johnny Rod on bass and Paul Shortino on vocals. So, what does this rendition of the band offer us mere mortals this time around? Well, for fans of the heavy blues groove all your boxes will be ticked. All original songs apart from Love Hurts, this is quite a solid album although the production is a bit muddy in places.

Music Is A Piece Of Art opens up the album with a heavy Zeppelin groove, very reminiscent of Badlands. That groove continues with Turn Up The Music and I really like the hook and chorus on this one. Favourite track time next with Secrets And Lies. A nice change of pace changing through the gears and I really like the solo. Drownin’ follows and the hook and chorus are superb, I love the main melody. One More Night ends Side 1 and it’s a straight up and down blues rocker.

I could have done without Love Hurts but I guess Shortino’s raspy style suits the song. Dance has a very deep heavy low end groove with those Zeppelin drums again. If I played you Darkness before the vocals kick in, you would swear this was a Zeppelin outtake. We Are Warriors is the best song on Side 2 because it sounds like them. A nice riff, with a great guitar sound, a cool driving tempo, and a catchy hook and chorus. The album closes out with Drive Like Lightning and it’s a return to the Bonham drum sound.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

When I usually say that “this band should have been huge” it’s usually down to record label apathy because they dropped the band for whatever stupid reason. But for this band, they dissolved when Carmine Appice folded the band because he threw in his lot and joined John Sykes in Blue Murder. I love Blue Murder, but they only released two initial albums and then goodbye. Hindsight is a wonderful thing right?

This is the first King Kobra album released in ’85 and it’s a bit of a stormer. The title track gets things going in fine style with a hard rocking beast of a track – with a killer riff and groove, and an equally superb vocal from Mark Free. Hunger is a melodic rock master class, a great melody and hook with the a big sing-a-long chorus. Shadow Rider has a very sleazy riff and slow groove, with a short killer solo. Shake Up has (what I call) a stock 80’s riff with a great guitar tone and big huge chorus. Attention closes out Side 1 with a blast and double kicks a plenty – a bonafide party rocker.

The party vibe continues with Side 2 opener, Breakin’ Out – another up-tempo rocker with the big hook and chorus. A really nice riff and guitar tone opens up next track, Tough Guys, with a textbook hook and chorus, and a very nice dual guitar solo. Ballad city next with Dancing With Desire, and they do try something a little different with the format that keeps it interesting. Second Thoughts is my least favourite track on the album – it feels as though it belongs on a soundtrack from any teen angst 80’s movie. Piece Of The Rock closes out the album, and it’s a big anthem hands-in-air finish.

An album very much of the eighties, but a great example of the genre.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

After the success of Journey and Foreigner with their softened up brand of rock with big hooks and melodies, record companies were lining up to sign bands that remotely resembled them with dollar signs in their eyes. After Carmine Appice’s brief spell with Ozzy, he put together a melodic rock band with relatively unknown musicians. Mark Free on vocals (who would later transition into Marcie Free), Mick Sweda on guitar (who would later be a founding member of the Bulletboys), and Johnny Rod (who would join W.A.S.P, among others).

Song wise, it’s what you would expect from a very American radio friendly record. It takes no risks and it’s melodic rock for dummies. Second Time Around is a decent opening tune with a big chorus and melody. Dream On is a little lighter in approach and the emphasis is on the song, and it was written by Russ Ballard. Feel The Heat would have made a great single if the record company were paying attention. Title track, Thrill Of A Lifetime, follows and is the best track so far. Very Foreigner in style with some nice playing by all concerned, and an earworm of a chorus. Last track on Side 1 is Only The Strong Survive and is the big ballad that was part of the contract for all these bands at the time.

Side 2 opening track is Iron Eagle (Never Say Die) the theme song to the movie Iron Eagle. It was written by outside writers and it sounds like a different band to me. Home Street Home follows and starts with the eighties signature over processed drum intro, and then comes a very average attempt at rapping by Mark Free – the word “cheesy” comes to mind. Overnight Sensation is next, and is the first really up-tempo rocker on the album so far, with a nice solo from Mick Sweda. Raise Your Hands To Rock is next, and I have to ask which one? Granite, Limestone which is the best? Seriously though, it’s probably the best track on the album and rocks quite hard. Album close out track, Party Animal, is again a rocker. The album goes out on a high with the last three tracks. The band would record one major album and then disappear until the early toonies, when one of the small boutique European labels would resurrect the name to record a couple of albums.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.