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

Best Hair Metal albums of all time-20-16

The countdown moves on to numbers 20-16. By looking at this set it's safe to assume that 1989 was good year for hair metal.


20-Skid Row -s/t (1989)
I don't like this one near as much as I did back then. Still was a decent kick in the pants that went against the sappier hair metal that was on the rise.


19-Tigertailz-Young and crazy (1987)
Not their best album (hint hint), but it does feature their best vocalist-Steevi Jaimz.



18-Tora Tora -Surprise Attack (1989)
These guys played a solid brand of blues hard rock. It's sugary, but active.


17-King Kobra-ready to strike (1985)
If they get remembered at all often this band gets remembered as "oh, yeah the four bleached blond guys and Carmine Appice". Their debut was very tight.


16-Bang Tango-psycho cafe (1989)
These guys were impressive on their debut with a mix of hard rock and light funk.

Numbers 15-11 on Saturday.

Five things in metal that I am thankful for in 2011

I have been making these lists in November for the last four or five years. So in no real order here are the top five things in metal that I am thankful for this year.

King Kobra-So many bands put reunion albums these days the number of bands have not reformed are probably in a minority. In many cases it turns out to be a lame attempt to cash in. King Kobra reformed with 4/5 of their early line-up with veteran vocalist Paul Shortino coming in Marcie (Mark) Free who is involved with Unruly Child's reunion. Most of these have been in several bands over the years so I was afraid this might just be another quickly released generic album. I was wrong because this solid AOR/hard rock coming from some experienced musicians who spent time really working out a solid album. I am thankful for King Kobra for proving that a reunion album can be good.

Iron Claw-This is kind of a bittersweet pick since vocalist Gordon Brown recently left this band and they are once again looking for a singer. However that doesn't take away from the fact that they released their first album since the 70's this year and it was a killer. They had a real handle on taking the vibe of the 70's but keeping it fresh. The results was a solid album of heavy groove powered rock. I am thankful for them because they showed that an older band come back and still be relevant.

Southern Lord records-Not always my favorite label in the world. However this year they had like 4-5 albums that I will consider for my top 25 albums of the year list that I'll post next month. At least two of those are likely to make my top ten. I will not name them now because that would spoil my list. I'll just add that having that many quality releases make me thankful for this label and they certainly deserve a spot on the list.

Michael Schenker-I frequently pick a guitarist for this list. This year it's Michael Schenker. Nothing make me madder at a guitarist than if they just showboat and through themselves into complete self-indulgent wankery. Schenker has the skills to showoff, but on his latest album he contributes to making the songs strong rather than focusing just on himself. I am thankful for Michael Schenker for demonstrating how to use his skill for the good of the album rather than just showing off.

Alice Cooper-We should almost always be thankful for Alice Cooper. However this year it's even more evident. So Alice was going to do a sequel album and bring in a bunch of guest stars. Normally those two things spell disaster in recent years. Instead it turned out to be his best album in a long time and he has some good albums in the last decade or so. The writing is strong, the guests perform well and Alice sounds comfortable. So I am thankful for Alice Cooper for proving that sequel albums can be good and that having a bunch of guest stars can help.

There you go.

King Kobra-s/t

Frontiers
2011

Maybe you remember these guys if you are of a certain age. The brainchild of drummer Carmine Appice (Cactus, Vanilla Fudge and many more), he put the band to together after Sharon Osborne gave him the boot from her hubby's band. After some shifts in the line-up King Kobra had a major label record deal and put their debut "Ready to strike" out in 1985. I heard it shortly after it's release and was impressed by the smooth blend of hard rock and AOR. They got some airplay on the radio and MTV plus a few articles here and there in the metal rags of the time. They quickly jetted back to the studio and the follow-up "Thrill of a lifetime" was anything but for fans. The AOR devoured the hard rock sound they became so mellow and they even did one of the worst raps I have ever heard in my life. The album failed to catch on, they got booted from their label and line-up changes began. Vocalist Mark Free left and was replaced by Marq Torien. Bassist Johnny Rod got a fine gig playing WASP and Lonnie Vincent replaced him. The new line-up began knocking out some demos. Soon part of this group (including original KK guitarist Mick Sweda) would splinter off and form the Bullet Boys. Not one to give up Camine Appice along with remaining guitarist David Michael Phillips recruited three more members and knocked out "3" in 1988, but again third album and another different sound. The band found little interest again and dissolved. A decade later their was a semi-reunion album of sorts in the form of 1999's Hollywood Trash which quite honestly is rotten album that is best left forgotten. I figured that was it this band, but like almost every other 80's hard rock band they are trying again. This time with 4/5 of the "Ready to strike" line-up. The only change is vocalist Mark (now Marcie) Free has been replaced by former Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot vocalist Paul Shortino. The band only had one really good album and that was over 25 years ago. Some of these guys have not done any hard rock album in a while so this album had a lot against it, but they have overcome it. "Rock this house", "Top of the world" and "This is how we roll" are fine blasting rockers. Musicly so is "Turn up the good times", but it's kind of hard to take guys old enough to be grandpas saying "party hardy". "Screaming for more" is pure a Roth-era Van Halen whoop it up barnburner although the lyrics are pure cheese. "Tear down the walls", "Midnight woman", "You make it easy" and "Live for forever" are all slow to medium AOR type songs that really Paul Shortino to shine. This guy sounds fantastic even now and unlike with Rough Cutt he's getting some better material to use his sensational pipes for. "We got a fever" at first comes across as the odd man out with it's pop/blues approach for the first half it's hard to hand in there. It's gets better and the solos are very smooth, but overall not one of the best songs here. That leaves the two ballads "Crying turns to rain" and "Fade away" which are well written, finely paced songs and ballads sure are not my favorites. Again Shortino steps and sounds fantastic. My only complaints on this album do involve the ballads though. They are put ar track spots 10 and 12, comeon guys learn some track placement. Two ballads on an album so put one in the first half and one in the second half. The other point is I just don't ever think it's a good idea to end an album on a ballad at least not for a hard rock band. Your closer leaves the last impression so end with a scorcher or a heavy hitter. Still minor complaints because King Kobra have done a fine job with this album. I can't speak highly enough about Shortino and he had big shoes to fill because Free was (and still is) a great talent, but Paul gave 110% here. Carmine Appice and Johnny Rod laid down the beats in simple, but solid fashion. I think the unsung heroes here are Mick Sweda and David Michael Phillips (Henzerling) as they had not played together in some time and worked over style sounding like pros the whole time. They use restraint and guide the song as needed, but let loose with tasty riffs as needed too. Most reunion end up sour or mediocre, but chalk this up as a success.

Forgotten Gems : King Kobra-Ready to strike

Capitol
1985

It was early Summer of 1985 and I had earned $10 for helping a neighbor with farm work and the money was burning a hole in my pocket. My dad had to go get groceries and I went with him so I could run down to get a cassette from the newly opened local record store. I wanted to get a tape by band I had never heard before. I remembered seeing an add for an album by a mop topped band that looked to me like a hard rock band. That was all I knew about them, but that was enough. I plunked down my money and bought King Kobra's debut Ready to strike just based on a picture of them posing with their hair and their instruments. Got home and plopped the tape into my extremely cheap-o tape player and was definitely please with my purchase. Singer Mark Free (now Marcie Free) had a tremendous set of pipes as he showed his powerful range on the title track and other songs like "Shake up" and "Dancin with desire". Guitarist David Michael Phillips (David Henzerling) and Mick Sweda work well together creating smooth melodies and cranking out some ripping solos. Bass player Johnny Rod does a solid job. Veteran drummer and band leader Carmine Appice lays down some pounding beats and keeps the pace going. The heaviness level isn't far off from someone like Dokken. I played this cassette plenty of times back in 1985 and still do. Although I didn't know any one else back then who liked them. Their other albums never quite matched up to this one and by the third album only Appice and Phillips were left from this line-up. I think a number of people discovered this album years after it was released and are enjoying now. So better late than never. Definitely a prime example of good 80's hard rock. Soon we'll if the 4/5 reunion of this line-up (everyone but Free) can knock out another solid release on their upcoming album.

Bleach, line-up changes and the dreaded melodic turn

A new record store had just opened near me in the summer of 1985. One hot Summer day my dad was going into the grocery store and I had enough time to slip down to the record store and just enough money to buy one cassette (yes, I know that was a bad format to choose). I remember looking at lots of choices. Most were bands I only knew by name or one song from one of the late night metal radio shows that I soaked in. Finally after much deliberation I settled on King Kobra's "Ready to strike" although I don't remember why. This band was formed by former Cactus, Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice and eventually rounded out by four bleached blond musicians. Their debut wasn't anything new, but I loved it then and still do. The pace and heaviness level is comparable to Dokken or Black and Blue, but for me the kicker was singer Mark Free. Years before his gender change he was a remarkable singer. You can really hear it on the "Motor City Strike" bootleg too because there are no overdubs and you are treated to his fabulous range.

Unfortunately a year later their label pushed them to create more radio friendly songs and the result was the more AOR leaning "Thrill of a lifetime". Mark Free still sounded good, but guitarists Mick Sweda and David Michael Phillips get shoved to the background and Carmine Appice's drum sound is thin and limp. Only the last three tracks had much life to them. After this album the revolving door began going on full motion. Their label dropped them, Mark Free left and was replaced by Marc Torien and bassist Lonnie Vincent replaced Johnny Rod who had left for higher ground as he joined WASP. It wasn't long after that point until the four blonds left Appice to form their own band. However David Michael Phillips didn't get along with Marc Torien so he soon returned to Appice while the other band would become the Bulletboys. King Kobra was soon completed with Johnny Edwards on vocals, Jeff Northrup filling in the second guitar spot and Larry Hart on bass. By this point it was 1988 and the band couldn't get signed so Appice released "III" on his own label and got some distribution help in the form New Renaissance. To me this album was a mixed bag that sounded like it was made up of leftovers and while Edwards was quite decent he was no Mark Free. The band did not tour for this album and soon they broke up. An album of unreleased demos called "The Lost Years" came out years later and unfortunately so did an ill-advised not really reunion album called "Hollywood Trash" in 1999. Truly a band that never followed up on their initial potential, but I still enjoy the debut and the bootleg.

Lesser of two evils

Putting bad albums to good use.

Sometimes they come back. Actually in the last decade or so many 80's bands have come back whether we wanted them to or not. Actually the bands in question today had some high points or a point back in the 1980's. Ratt were actually one of the more consistent hard rock bands of that decade. They were never truly great or groundbreaking, but every album from 1983-1990 was at least good or better. The band broke up in the early 90's after line-up changes, lack of albums sales and other factors finally took their toll on the band. King Kobra were a different story of sorts. They were founded by veteran drummer Carmine Appice (Cactus, Vanilla Fudge and many others) and originally featured guitarist Earl Slick. However some changes were made and the band did manage to land on a major label. They released a fine, but overlooked debut "Ready to strike" in 1985. Then followed it up the next year with "Thrill of a lifetime" which unfortunately saw the band heading in a more AOR direction. The band then fell on rough times as they got booted from their label and then several line-up changes ensued including basssist Johnny Rod going to WASP and other members left to form the Bullet Boys. The band came back with a very different line-up on the 1988 release King Kobra 3 which was a hit and miss affair at best. After that they decided to call it a day as band members went off to other projects.


Time passed, the stars lined up a certain way and these old geezers needed money so they came back. Ratt would return with three original members as they went to a single guitar approach and they brought in former Vince Neil bassist Robbie Crane to round out the line-up. King Kobra includes Appice, some limited playing by former member Mick Sweda and several new members plus some guests.

Here we go.

King Kobra-Hollywood Trash

vs.

Ratt-s/t

Vocalist

I actually had to skip this section and come back because I knew it would be tough. Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge, Blue Murder) is up for King Kobra. He has always had a good voice as far he has range and can handle different styles, but he lacks distinction and the ability to really display emotion in his voice. He goes through the motions fine, but nothing stands out and he is only as good as the song he sings. Pearcy was known even in the 80's for not having the strongest voice in the world to say the least. If anything it's even a little thinner on this album. However, he has a distinct sound and that makes a difference. His voice is very much a part of who Ratt were. So a an off day for Pearcy is better than an on day for Keeling.

Point to Ratt

Guitarist

Warren DeMartini is up for Ratt taking on Kelly Keeling, Mick Sweda, Steve Fister and guest C.C. Deville. First up King Kobra deserve to be docked for bringing in Deville even though it's in a limited guest roll. I mean if you need his help then you really should not be making an album in the first place. Despite the fact that Sweda has been a competent guitarist in his other bands, most of the work for King Kobra is generic at best and underdone and dull at worst. They sound more like some run of the mill band noodling around in the basement or like the kind of poodle-haired bar band that probably existed back around 1989 in every little town. DeMartini was always Ratt's best player. He is none too spectacular this time around, but there are a few sharp hooks on occasion.

Point to Ratt


Rhythm section

For Ratt it's drummer Bobby Blotzer and bassist Robbie Crane going against Carmine Appice on drums and Kelly Keeling wearing his third hat as bass player. Bobby Blotzer has always been the definition of run of the mill as far as hard rock drummers go. What you can expect from a guy whose nickname is "the blotz"? He is however helped out by some decent production. Robbie Crane is probably just as good as former Ratt bassist Juan Crocier and I really can't hear that either guy made that much of a contribution. On the King Kobra side Kelly Keeling can be heard on occasion and not a bad tone from his bass either. Carmine Appice is no doubt an above average drummer. Yet on a few songs the drum sound is thin and clunky like he is playing down the hall from where the microphones were. Then for most of the album the sound is worked out and he does well enough. There are several parts he handles with ease that I am sure Blotzer could not play at all.

Point to King Kobra


Originality/production

The first thing I think about when I got to this column on originality was the fact that this is the second self-titled album for Ratt as their first EP was also self-titled. However that fact should not reflect on their music. Ratt could have picked up where they left off in the early 90's and it might have worked. Instead they tried to become more serious. They didn't have the writing ability for that to work. instead they lost the best aspect of Ratt which was that they were a fun band when they were on. This is just tedious. King Kobra is even worse though. This is bland, faceless hard rock with a few weak attempts to be slightly modern. The production for Ratt is okay, slightly light yet alright. The production on King Kobra varies like the songs were done at different times. Some are adequate and other times it's so thin that they sound more like rough demos.

Point to Ratt



Who rocks more?

Oh, it's time to take a deep breath and try to figure this out. This category is like figuring out the Rubik's cube. That is if the Rubik's cube involved piles of lame music that made me cringe when I heard it. Okay, maybe it's not that much like the Rubik's Cube except it is tough to figure out. Neither band really rocks, that's obvious. Both tried too hard to do something different than they did in their past and both failed. However Ratt stayed closer to their roots and they did have one really good song on this album which is one more than King Kobra had.

Point to Ratt




Despite putting out the worst album of their career Ratt still take this one 4-1. Reunion albums tend to fail more often than they succeed. Many bands seem to fall into the trap of "oh, we need to be hip to the current trends". So many times you get some old geezers trying to sound modern and they fall on their faces because it's not natural and it's probably not what long time fans want. In this case, despite struggling Ratt do sound a little like their old selves. However this isn't much about King Kobra that links this album to their previous releases. They could have called it "Carmine and the mustaches" or "Hasbeens and neverweres" or whatever and it meant as much as calling themselves King Kobra. Appice had the right to use the name, but it's really just the band in name only. To their credit the King Kobra disc does include two bonus tracks which are demos from the 80's and they are the best songs on the album, but I didn't feel it was fair to include bonus tracks in this contest since they were from a different time and with different band line-ups.


***Be back soon with another one of these.