King Kobra-II

Frontiers Records
2013

Looking at that title and scratching your head? Well, here's the scoop/deal ladies and gents. When King Kobra initially got back together after 25 years apart they called the new disc simply "King Kobra" so, logically I guess, since one is called "II".  Got it? Good. So, with all of that said what do we have here? The answer is pretty solid hard rock that, yeah I'll admit it, I found better then expected. Honestly I figured this would be a train wreck of expect proportions, but that isn't the case. To be fair I never heard their "comeback" album released in 2011 so this follow-up is all new to me. With "Hell On Wheels" and "Knock Them Dead" front-loading this album King Kobra seem to know what they're doing. Paul Shortino sounds simply great. While I did not review the group's last album I did go back and see what Metal Mark had to say about them and he was impressed with the comeback release so that says something. Anyway, special mention should be given to Carmine Appice. Yes, he sometimes gets a bad rap, but here is drumming is simply spot on (check out the intro to "When the Hammer Comes Down" for proof) and he more then helps his fellow band mates carry this hard rock beat forward. OK, so admittedly Van Halen could sue this bunch for how much "The Ballad Of Johnny Rod", an ode to bassist Johnny Rod, sounds exactly like their (Van Halen) cover of John Brim's "Ice Cream Man". We'll let that pass though, and any other moments when this crew might sound like other, more "popular" acts, as the rest of this motley bunch of older rockers (guitarists David Michael-Phillips and Mick Sweda) help make "II" a really fine hard rock platter. Maybe I am getting too grey in my old age, but the emotional pull of "Take Me Back" (a time-reflective number) stopped me in my tracks then again so did the band's attempt at epic hard rock with the nearly 8-minute track, "Deep River"! It's not all a walk in the park though as "The Crunch" is pure filler and "Don't Keep Me Waiting" is a little flat and, yes it's because of their older age, rather cheesy lyric-wise. Two out of twelve is really good then if that's the only so-so tracks you're talking about. So, overall "II" is rather a fine slice of Americanized hard rock that, while it might make you think of some of your other favorite bands, is proof that these older rockers can still kick up some serious dirt!


LL