KOBRA AND THE LOTUS kept their word and will soon deliver the second part of their opus magnum one year after the successful release of rock juggernaut Prevail I!
Prevail II is the proverbial yang to the yin and continues right where KOBRA AND THE LOTUS left off in 2017. Set for a release on April 27th 2018 with Napalm Records, the band has now unveiled the cover artwork and track listing for their hotly anticipated Prevail II!
Says vocalist Kobra Paige: “Humanity. One of the greatest struggles of our human existence is to retain it. This sequel album takes a deeper dive into the darkness of our psyche and explores the personal torment and struggle we inflict upon ourselves, one another, and the earth. It has become common place for people to give up on themselves and lose their belief in their abilities and self-worth. This in turn affects our daily actions/behaviour. We are a cripplingly, self-harming species BUT we are also profoundly capable beings of altruism, evolution, and positivity. This album will close the ‘Prevail’ double sequel on the lightest of all notes by acknowledging that every single person has a desire to be and deserves to be truly seen, loved, and heard. When the ignorance is cleared, we can recognize that we are all in this together.”
The track list will read as follows:
1. Losing My Humanity
2. Let Me Love You
3. Ribe
4. My Immortal
5. Human Empire
6. Heartache
7. Velvet Roses
8. Modern Day Hero
9. You're Insane
10. White Water
11. The Chain
12. Let Me Love You (Acoustic Bonus Track)
KOBRA AND THE LOTUS know perfectly well what it takes to cater for the needs of every metal, hard & classic rock fan. With Prevail II the Canadian four piece delivers the grande final to their emotional and musically diverse Prevail-series while showing all of the band's facettes at its best: This is Pure Rock adrenaline!
Set for a release on April 27th 2018, 'Prevail II is now available to pre-order HERE!
In support of KOBRA AND THE LOTUS' brand new album, the band will be touring the States with THE TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION, make sure to catch them live on the following dates:
4/19 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
4/20 Denver, CO @ Hermans Hideaway
4/21 Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios
4/22 Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
4/25 Johnson City, TN @ MarX The Spot
4/26 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
5/03 Louisville, KY @ Trixies
5/05 Winchester, VA @ Blue Fox
5/07 Providence, RI @ Alchemy
5/09 Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall
5/10 Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
5/11 New York, NY @ Kingsland
5/12 Harrisburg,PA @ Harrisburg Midtown Arts center
5/13 Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
5/15 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
5/16 Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
5/17 Joliet, IL @ The Forge
5/18 Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory
5/19 Racine, WI @ Route 20
5/20 St Louis, MO @ Fubar
5/23 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
5/24 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
5/25 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
5/27 Los Angeles, CA @ 1720
5/30 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theater
6/01 Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Club
6/02 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
6/03 Austin, TX @ Come And Take it Live
LINEUP
Kobra Paige – Vocals
Jasio Kulakowski – Guitars
Brad Kennedy - Bass
Marcus Lee - Drums
BIOGRAPHY
Launched in 2009, Kobra And The Lotus is the lifeblood and passion of Canadian vocalist Kobra Paige. Eight years into their journey, the band has gone through significant changes in sound and personnel to the point that they were able evolve and create what is easily the strongest album in the Kobra And The Lotus catalogue. In fact, the aptly titled Prevail is such a show of strength that Kobra and her bandmates chose to make a double album to be released in two parts over the next year; a venture very few artists have the backbone to attempt.
Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Kobra And The Lotus garnered immediate attention in Canada and the US with their debut album, Out Of The Pit, in 2010. The release of their self-titled second album in 2012 and High Priestess in 2014 enabled the band to tour worldwide both as a headliner and support act, which included a North American tour with KISS and Def Leppard. Sadly, Kobra was forced to take an eight month break from music due to a battle with Lyme disease, but Kobra And The Lotus regained much needed momentum with their Words Of The Prophets covers EP in 2015. In fact, the EP played was an integral part in the birth of Prevail in that it cemented the working relationship between Kobra and guitarist Jasio Kulakowski, who joined the band in 2012.
The idea of making a double album was introduced by Kobra's father, who suggested they do it because the vast majority of younger generation metal artists don't have the drive. Kobra admits she thought he was insane and that it was a surefire way to commit career suicide.
"A week later, I couldn't get the idea out of my head because I didn't see any reason why we couldn't push ourselves to do it," says Kobra. "We could at least try, and in that way make a bold statement that Kobra And The Lotus is still hanging in there."
When the band signed with Napalm Records, who were 100% supportive of the double album concept, the label opted to split Prevail into two parts because they felt it was too much material all at once that would go over people's heads. Twenty-one songs in all (including a cover), Prevail I and II share outstanding and diverse material due to the fact the songs were all written at the same time. Not only that, they wrote and recorded together in the studio with producer Jacob Hansen. According to Kobra, the band went to Denmark almost completely empty-handed and had very little material prepared. She calls it an "amazing experience" in that all the writing happened in one place, where the band members could bounce ideas off each other and encourage one other. They also benefitted from Hansen's considerable knowledge and experience.
"I'd say about 85% of Prevail happened in the studio on the spot," says Kobra. "Once we saw how much more colour was added to the songs by working that way we started to feel comfortable with the process. There were some unique things that happened because we were all there together. There was a whole new, whole different vision for this album. I didn't know how this was going to turn out; a lot of it came from my intuition. Jasio is my writing partner and he's a creative force. We lock in with one another when we write, it's amazing. I'm really proud and overjoyed with how the album turned out."
Prevail marks Kobra And The Lotus' debut as members of the Napalm Records roster, but for Kobra the collaboration is a first on many levels for the band.
"It's one of those amazing things that happens and I feel so blessed that Napalm were still interested in us. Every time we were getting ready to release something they were always there looking at us. We always went somewhere else and it was never a good choice (laughs). Okay, it was a good choice in how we needed to grow, but Napalm is the best label we could have hoped for because they're dedicated and they work really hard. There's a lot of young energy at the label and that's a blessing compared to other deals we've had. I don't think we ever knew what it meant to be supported by a label until we signed with Napalm."
In the months prior to the release of Prevail, fans were treated to three singles: "Trigger Pulse", "Gotham" and "You Don't Know". It comes as no surprise they are reminiscent of some of the material on High Priestess thanks to Kobra and Jasio's partnership, but they also attest to Kobra And The Lotus' massive growth as songwriters and musicians since the last record. On paper it sounds like lip service to say the band has become heavier, more dynamic and adventurous, but your ears don't lie.
Bottom line... Kobra And The Lotus are fearless as they move forward with Prevail, and with good reason.
DISCOGRAPHY
Out of the Pit Full-length 2009
Kobra and the Lotus Full-length 2012
High Priestess Full-length 2014
Words of the Prophets EP 2015
Zombie EP 2015
TriggerPulse Single 2016
Gotham Single 2017
You Don't Know Single 2017
Prevail I Full-length 2017