Released in the UK on Spinefarm Records HighPriestess is the third album from Kobra and theLotus, following up the impressive self-titledoffering from 2012. As a five piece metal bandfrom Canada with the classically trained KobraPaige on vocals, Kobra and the Lotus have mixedNWOBHM influences with a healthy dose of powermetal to create the sound their fans know themfor.They can currently be found on tour in theUSA with Kiss & Def Leppard.Opening the album with Warhorse it is clearright away that the Kobra and the Lotus sound wehave grown to love over the past two years isstill strong in this album. The scene is verymuch being set as I am treated to a heavy hit ofbass riffs backed by thumping double bass drumsto open the album. This track lives up to itstitle and one cannot help but visualise a chargeinto war backed by the fast rhythmic guitars andKobras powerful vocals. I am, I am followsthe same formula and falls in line perfectlybehind Warhorse to set my mind at rest early onthat this is a full on heavy metal album.That not to say every track sounds the same, farfrom it in fact, as the next couple of tracks(Heartbeat & Hold On) slow the mood down alittle and give me a hint of melodic influencescoming through. Make no mistake these are stillmetal tracks but the guitar work feels lessaggressive, holding a much more symphonic edgeto it, with Kobra dialling her vocals down tomatch the pace.So almost halfway through the album and thus farthere has been a definite tip of the hat to thefans of old, followed by a couple of trackswhich explore new styles, I arrive at the titletrack High Priestess. The pace is picked up asI am presented with of the more storming riffsand shredding solos we expect from axe manJasio, and back to the powerful vocals fromKobra, albeit a more complex and mature offeringnow.Soldier is in my opinion the most powerfultrack on the album. So far there has beenglimpses of a fantasy battle theme coursingthrough the album with lyrics and the musicalstyle, but here it comes right into the realworld. From the orchestral intro depicting amodern deployment into battle, to the hauntinglyrics telling me of a soldiers last moments inthe war, the song boils over with the emotionthat Kobra has been investing into the album.Stepping much closer to the power metal side ofKATL this song sits as mark of respect towarriors the world over. It seems fitting thatthis song should be followed by the equally darkoffering Battle of Wrath which with acombination of heavy riffs and fast solos servesto bring me back away from the emotional ledgethese songs were occupying.Thats not to say Visionary & Willow arewithout emotion as you can still hear the heartand soul of Kobra coming through in the vocals,and indeed Jasio in the solos to make two finemetal tracks. Bringing the album to a close,Lost in the Shadows opens with Kobra singingover the strumming of an acoustic guitar.Transitioning quickly to full electric again,the guitar work meanders through the songintertwined with vocals. This power metal balladends a strong album as perfectly as Warhorsestarted it, with the last notes being Kobrasinging the words Guide my wayHigh Priestess is produced by Jonny K (Megadeth,Defiled) and thought the album the skilledproduction is evident with clear crisp solos,punchy bass and drums while not obscuring thevocals from Kobra Paige. There are a number oftracks on the album (Heartbeat, Soldier,Visionary) that I would expect to introduce newlisteners to Kobra and the Lotus. Overall a verysolid album with some superb new tracks thatwill give fans new and old a treat played live.Lineup:Kobra Paige VocalsJasio Kulakowski Lead/Rhythm guitarBrad Kennedy bass guitarBones Elias Guest drumsJake Dreyer Guest guitarsRelease Tracklist1 - Warhorse [03:25]2 - I Am, I Am [04:17]3 - Heartbeat [04:29]4 - Hold On [04:26]5 - High Priestess [04:10]6 - Soldier [04:33]7 - Battle Of Wrath [05:53]8 - Visionary [03:32]9 - Willow [04:02]10 - Lost In The Shadow [06:11]Total Length : [44:58 minn