Kobra and the Lotus

I'm really digging this band right now. I had heard a bit of their earlier stuff, and I really liked it, but I believe Kobra Paige's voice has gotten even stronger. Their self titled debut is a "must hear".  

Once again (probably as usual), I am likely to incur the wrath of some of my fellow metal heads,but I suppose that is inevitable, one way or the other. It is; after all, my blog, which means my opinions reside herein, so...here goes.

Personally. I tire of all metal having a repetitive vocal style. I refer to two styles in particular. One of these is the seemingly constant need to either scream or growl. Now, I don't mind hearing a bit of it, my own vocal style can be a bit caustic at times, but does it have to be so redundantly present? Can you at least show me that you can sing, like say, Opeth, for example?

The second of these I liked initially, but now it is getting a bit "cliche" in both metal and goth rock. I am referring to operatic vocals. I like them, they are great, but does every goth or metal band with a female lead have to sound like either Nightwish or Reliquary?

Enter Kobra and the Lotus. I really like these guys. They are a breath of fresh air. Some might argue that they are reminiscent of 80's metal bands like Iron Maiden (personally, I hear Helloween), and maybe that is one reason I am growing so fond of them. I do miss 80's metal, I suppose. I don't miss the "hair metal" crap, but I do miss the true metal of the 80's. I do hear a lot of that in this band, but there is also a fresh sound in there I haven't quite been able to pinpoint as yet.

One thing I know I really love is Kobra Paige's vocals. She mingles some of the operatic elements (being classically trained from what I hear), but is careful not to over do it. She also adds a bit of the metal "raunchiness", but doesn't do that to the extreme either. It is all very balanced. 

My kids tell me I just like her because she sounds like me (or like I used to, at any rate), and THAT I can only take as a complement. They weren't even being sarcastic or trying to insult me this time, either. At any rate, Kobra and the Lotus are a good solid metal band. The musicianship is impeccable, and they are lead by a true "metal goddess". 

Check them out for yourselves : 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpzKdQ1e2U

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kobra-and-the-lotus/id632705399?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

http://www.kobraandthelotus.com/

Also published on FullofKnowledge : http://fullofknowledge.com/2013/08/kobra-and-the-lotus/