King Cobra – Self Titled

Despite originating in Ontario, the Hamilton rockers making up King Cobra find their defining influence much farther south of the Canadian border.  Their sound has a real southern rock n’ roll essence, much in the vein of modern staples Better Than Ezra or Saliva, but with the tough-as-nails delivery of near-metal acts like Mower.  That being said, for their self-titled debut EP, King Cobra shies away from safe radio rock, infusing a sense of aggression more common in hardcore acts like Memphis May Fire or Every Time I Die.  Taken altogether, their first effort communicates a safe but lively affair showcasing considerable promise.

Generally tracks follow a familiar formula that should find a warm welcome from fans of the crossover genre.  Firstly, vocalist Garth falls right in line with his peers.  His vocals bounce back and forth between the big rock n’ roll heavy hitters and the throaty screams of a decipherable hardcore style just enough to prevent any obvious mainstream comparisons.  For that matter, a certain southern swagger rolls forth, mingling with guitarists Randell and Ricky’s occasional country tuned riffs just enough to reinforce their regional identity.  For example, tracks like “From The Ground Up” insert southern styled riffs and what might be termed “mini solos” between a barrage of more conventional chords.  Furthermore, homely lyrics like “my home is where my heart lives, and you can never take that from me” communicate a sense of community aligning with their backwoods inspiration.

Across King Cobra the band places varying emphases on their different styles to maintain an evolving and exciting sound.  Tracks like “Unbreakable” fall on the harder side of hardcore, throwing in some crunching riffs when upping the ante.  Meanwhile, others like “Worth The World” throw in some finely tuned choral harmonies and supporting gang vocals for some catchy toe tappers.  However, even with all the excitement most tracks come across fairly predictably, with hardcore vocals dominating the verse, and the clean ones surfacing during choruses.  The result is a safe start, but will probably only carry the band so far before needing to branch out.

All in all, King Cobra’s debut offers a rock solid fusion of hardcore and southern rock.  Their sense of southern swagger gives them a particularly genuine feel, suggesting King Cobra has what it takes to turn out catchy, memorable tunes.  Given today’s crowded and incredibly commercialized hardcore scene, King Cobra servers as a promising starting place for a young band looking to stand out from the pack.