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KING KOBRA
Sweden Rock Live
Metalville 2018

The first KING KOBRA live offering was recorded in Solvesborg, Sweden, and captures the band’s 2016 performance at the annual Sweden Rock [festival]. If you're reading this you're fully aware that singer Paul Shortino [ROUGH CUTT, QUIET RIOT] has been fronting the band for a few years and has recorded King Kobra and II, with both receiving critical acclaim. Also in the band from they band’s hayday are drummer Carmine Appice [CACTUS, VANILLA FUDGE, OZZY OSBOURNE], bassist Johnny Rod [W.A.S.P.], guitarist David Henzerling [BIG COCK]. Mick Sweda [BULLETBOYS] sat out this festival and guitarist Jordan Ziff [RATT] stepped up in his place.

The set list is somewhat underwhelming as KING KOBRA performed a cover of DEEP PURPLE’s “Highway Star”, an ‘acapella’ cover of BLACK SABBATH’s “Heaven And Hell”, and Johnny Rod stepped into the spotlight after his unnecessary ‘bass solo’ and sang about 3/4 of W.A.S.P.'s classic “Wild Child”. And what could be more of a rock ‘n' roll cliche than crowbarring a drum solo into an already limited allotment of time on the bill? Well, when the boss is Carmine Appice, you must honor his wishes and you get the obligatory solo. I point all of this out to say this; you take out the three covers and the two solos and there's no question there could have been three if not four more original songs in the set! The production sounds solid, though if you watch the set online, there's some spots where there's been some ‘sweetening' [an industry term that I swiped from KNAC.COM’s own DJ Will]. We can't crucify KING KOBRA for this as it's a relatively common practice.

Sweden Rock Live falls flat because it feels rushed and disingenuous. It's almost as if the band was booked and very little effort was put into putting their best foot forward for the reasons that I previously mentioned. The highlights on this one are “Hunger”, “Ready To Strike” and “Turn Up The Good Times”. Sadly, there’s very few ‘good times’ on this one. Do what Frontiers Records did with Sweden Rock Live and don’t touch it.

2.0 Out Of 5.0