The queen of well-known Metal band Kobra and the Lotus, Kobra Paige is looking to soar to new heights as a solo artist.
Classically trained, Paige possesses a powerful voice that immediately turned on Heavy Metal fans around Canada early on, before making a more global impact later with albums like 2017’s Prevail I, 2018’s Prevail II, and 2019’s Evolution. Looking at the band’s last record closer, Evolution was fittingly named; because it challenged listeners with a different sound than prior works that fit more in the Hard Rock world. Something that broadened their repertoire, with Paige’s solo effort she looks to shatter any preconceived notions one may have of who and what she is.
Entitled Like No Other, and released on August 30, 2024 through Pasadena Records, rumblings came as early as the Fall of 2023 that Paige was indeed working on solo material. First emerging with the single “Love What I Hate” back in October of 2023, the song showed a different side of Paige, with a very modern Hard Rock sound. From here, she put out “Under One Sun” in November of 2023, and this also displayed a different face, with a very powerful mix of Pop and Rock. Then a month later in December of 2023 another big surprise came with the very beautiful Adult Contemporary styled “Thank You.” At this point it was clear that Paige’s attentions were to throw caution at the wind and create songs in whatever light she felt fit the moment; following up with the energize Pop Rock “Freedom” this past March, before the liberating “HOTT.” in May, the stunningly beautiful “Dreamer” in June, and at last, the mystical feeling of “Like No Other” in July.
Honestly each having a very different vibe, for the average person on the outside looking in, there may be some question as to what the direction truly is here. However, Paige obviously was intent on making an album that celebrated each side of herself without worrying about what genre the music may fit. Mimicking a jigsaw puzzle, with each passing track released over the past year, you begin to see that while there seemingly is no cohesion here, there actually really is.
Simplifying it all, the running theme throughout Like No Other is one of individuality, self-discovery, and not concerning yourself with what others may or may not think of you. A powerful message in a hypocritical world that tells us – be ourselves and celebrate it, but if you do, and it happens to be the ‘self’ the current trends did not have in mind, prepared to be ridiculed. This raises the questions – while society claims to be more acceptable and open-minded than ever before, how much have things changed? The answer is within each of us, but if we are honest, it is probably more the case that things really stay the same, or dare it be said, become even more judgemental.
A very truthful and intense way of looking at matters, what is most exciting about Like No Other is Paige’s ability to say – this is who I am, take it or leave it. With that, she presents a very diverse collection of songs which may not appeal to just one select audience. There are moments here which are very Pop, others that are quite Rock-n-Roll, and some that might even surprise you.
A mixed bag of treats, some of the most engaging tracks of Like No Other are the ones that fit everywhere, but nowhere. This would include the aforementioned “Love What I Hate,” “Under One Sun,” as well as “Dreamer,” plus the very addictive rocker “Unbreakable.” Beyond these, “HOTT.” may cause some to blush with the provocative lyrics that makes the Divinyls 1990 hit “I Touch Myself” sound tame. A bit of a head turner at first, and perhaps feeling overtly sexual, if you look beneath the surface you will see the song is about so much more than such. Again, fitting into the context of tackling the unhealthy modern culture we have created… it certainly begs you to pay attention.
Overall, Like No Other is an album that dares to stick out. It is topical, self-empowering, and should appeal to anyone feeling disenfranchised. The best part is that this ideal is universal to all, no matter where they stand. This considered, you can only hope more will realize that while we are different, it does not mean we need to let others control us like puppets on strings, only to divide and conquer. Uplifting and spiritual, Cryptic Rock gives Kobra Paige’s Like No Other 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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