Biography
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Years Active
2009 – present (15 years)
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Founded In
Calgary, Calgary Metropolitan Region, Alberta, Canada
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Members
- Ben Freud (2009 – 2010)
- Brad Kennedy (2013 – present)
- Chris Swenson (2009 – 2012)
- Griffin Kissack (2009 – 2014)
- Jasio Kulakowski (2012 – present)
Kobra and the Lotus (also initialized as KATL) is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2009 by lead vocalist and songwriter Kobra Paige.
Out of the Pit (2009 - 2010)
The band recorded the first album Out of the Pit in Calgary in early 2009. During the mixing of the album at Metalworks Studios in Toronto, producer Greg Godovitz invited long time friend Rik Emmett to record a guitar solo to the only cover song on the album, a remake of Motörhead anthem Ace of Spades. After playing their first 2009 Canadian tour, Paige's vocal style had changed significantly and the band approached Kevin Shirley to rerecord the vocals and remix the album. The remix was so different that many industry writers thought the band had brought in a new lead singer. Producer Nick Blagona (Deep Purple) rerecorded the vocals and remixed the last track of the album "Legend". Kobra and the Lotus independently released their debut album Out of the Pit in March 2010.
Kobra and the Lotus (2011–2012)
The band recorded their second album self-titled Kobra and the Lotus February to April 2011, with producer Julius Butty then headed to Europe for a UK summer tour. While touring, the band's manager Susan Bullen had been in touch with several labels regarding the second album and reached out to Mark Spicoluk at Universal Music Group and played some preliminary tracks from the new album. Universal Canada thought the album needed an anthem and encouraged the band to write four new tracks and go back into the studio January and February 2012 with fellow Canadian Kevin Churko to record the new tracks and remix and remaster the entire album. The songs 50 Shades of Evil and Forever One were two of the new tracks written. The self-titled album was globally released in August 2012 in the UK and Europe by Spinefarm Records and in 138 other countries by Universal Music Group affiliates. It was then released in the USA and Canada in April 2013 with Universal Music Enterprises UMe and T-Boy Records.
High Priestess (2013–2014)
The band recorded 14 new tracks for their new album High Priestess with super producer Johnny K, a Grammy Award nominated producer/engineer/mixer/musician and songwriter at Groovemaster Recording Studios in Chicago. Charlie Parra del Riego joined as special guest guitarist for the recording. High Priestess was released globally on June 24, 2014. The band toured the new album in North America with KISS and Def Leppard in the summer of 2014. During the same recording session the band recorded "Zombie", a single featuring guest guitarist Charlie Parra del Riego that was later released on Halloween day (October 31, 2015). B-side is "Remember Me". There are two versions of "Remember Me" on the Kobra and the Lotus YouTube channel, one with an additional pre-chorus section.
Break and Words of the Prophets (2015–2016)
After an extensive tour schedule that summer Kobra Paige took an eight-month break from touring to regain her health. To regain their momentum Paige reunited her band with Johnny K, to do a tribute to the Canadian classic rock legends they grew up on. Words of the Prophets was released globally on August 28, 2015. The EP contains heavier covers from Alannah Myles, Triumph, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and April Wine. The band toured the new EP in Europe with Kamelot and Gus G in the fall of 2015. Subsequently, Paige became a guest singer with Kamelot for their Haven tour in North America and parts of Europe.
Prevail I and II (2017–2018)
The band recorded a double album after a successful pledge campaign with producer Jacob Hansen in Denmark. Prevail I and Prevail II will be released separately, Part I released in 2017. The first single from Prevail I 'TriggerPulse' was released early to coincide with a fall European tour with Delain and Evergrey and became the first song by Kobra and the Lotus to gain over 2 million plays on Spotify. The back story for how "TriggerPulse" was written is on the main band website blog. The second single from Prevail I 'Gotham' was released on February 17, 2017 with exclusive premiers streaming via Metal Hammer and Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. The third prerelease from Prevail I is "You Don't Know" Napalm Records[released on March 31, 2017. "Light Me Up" reached number 38 on the US Active Rock chart in December 2017. Prevail II was nominated for a Juno Award for Metal/Hard Album of the Year 2019.
Evolution (2019)
The band recorded Evolution, their sixth full length album with producer Michael Baskette and was released on September 20, 2019.
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Current members
Kobra Paige – vocals, piano (2009–present)
Jasio Kulakowski – guitars (2012–present)
Brad Kennedy – bass (2013–present)
Marcus Lee – drums (2014–present)
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Albums
Out of the Pit (2010)
Kobra and the Lotus (2012)
High Priestess (2014)
Words of the Prophets - EP (Titan Music, 2015)
Prevail I (2017)
Prevail II (2018)
Evolution (2019)
" Imagine Lee Aaron fronting Iron Maiden and you get an idea of what this hard rocking quintet is all about." - Access Magazine 2010. Kobra and the Lotus is a female fronted classic heavy metal band from Canada, featuring Brittany Paige from the 2010 Metal Hammer "Maidens of Metal" Calendar. Voted one of the top 10 bands to see at 2010 Canadian Music Week. Debut CD "Out of the Pit" produced by Kevin Shirley released March 2010 in Canada and September 27, 2010 in the UK.
"The Kobra and the Lotus frontwoman has more vocal muscle than just about any man in the scene" - Canoe Jam! Music 2010.
"If Bruce "Air Raid Siren" Dickinson (Iron Maiden), had a long-lost sister, it would doubtless be Kobra and the Lotus frontwoman Brittany Paige, Canada's next claimant to the crown of "Metal Queen" - Jamie O'Meara - Voir.ca
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