With such a strange, sexual ambiguous and equivocal moniker, we could have feared the worst, but the involvement of Gene "The Demon" Simmons that picked the band for his resurrected label Simmons Records is a guarantee of quality or at least a good sign so we could feel confident & more secure but soon we would have to experience another destabilizing moment, it's when you take a look at the pictures of the gorgeous Kobra Paige, the singer and leader of this Canadian band. You wonder if it's another prefabricated-Marketing-buzz-toy or if it's a true musical act: A real outfit featuring someone immensely gifted by the power above (or below), who is lucky enough to look so awesome and in the same time that is able to sing sincerely with credibility for a genuine Metal band. That was the distressing question and the answer is Hell Fucking yeah.

The vocals provided by the lovely Miss Paige aren't exactly in the same vein as Dani Nolden from SHADOWSIDE , Marta Gabriel from CRYSTAL VIPER or legendary Leather Leone from CHASTAIN, but there are some similarities, maybe more feminine and surely more polished but in the same time still very tough & heavy, ( no operatic diva bullshit here). The charming Kobra is driving the full record fiercely without never showed any sign of weakness through the whole album and her vocal technique is flawless.

Their first CD "Out Of The Pit" isn't available anymore or anywhere, the official band site even states that "Korbra And The Lotus" is actually the debut album. It's presumably the will to erase the past, to bring something entirely fresh, and to enhance it with the help of competent brand new line up.

The album starts with a bloody-hot tune "50 Shades Of Evil" that sounds amazingly powerful and very much like Scandinavian Power Metal, almost as if the band was coming from the Eastern part of Northern Europe. Indeed, the style displayed into this sharp track is quite similar to another female fronted band: BATTLE BEAST from mighty Finland. "50 Shades Of Evil" contains some very impressive guitar works, even if the obvious emphasis is both visually and sonically targeting on Miss Paige. The entire bunch of players delivers some straight, solid & tight performance by unleashing maximum fire from start to finish!

The second track "Welcome To My Funeral" and it's successor the gang-backing-vocal impelled single "Forever One" shown another side of the album that is more pragmatic / direct in the true style of the band, less spectacular but still double-bass driven, more focused on the headbanging part, on the melodies and on the enormous commercial potential, which is by the way more than convincing & concrete. Those songs are the clear highlights of the album.

By the fourth cut,  you already know that is a trust worthy disc and an authentic & consistent piece of Heavy Metal in the great NWOBHM tradition and a necessary addition to your collection. Because the almost dogmatic limitations of the old-school style paralyzes the creativity expansion, you also realize that it will not be the album of the year because even if the sheer quality is more than clearly palpable here, the rest of the tracklist is more or less constructed in the same nostalgic formula: it's a shame because everything was on green but that is a fact.

Nevertheless the numbers like "My Life" or "Lover Of The Beloved" are still quite interesting and "Sanctuary" or "Nayana" can even show some more ambitious stylistic determination, by mixing harsh and virulent riffs with some more atmospheric themes, perhaps it's the indication of a future diversification and those, still discreet elements once developed and merged with the evident talent already displayed through the entire album seems to set a shining future for this band. Also the unstoppable rising of the sexy Kobra Paige on her way to the stardom in our tiny headbanger's galaxy...

I am blessed enough to have the CD's Japanese edition, that jewel contains 2 bonus tracks "Clam Before The Storm" and "Dark Passengers" both are regular but well-crafted True Metal songs! Very recommended.

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