Ready To Strike [Import]

King Kobra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Phantom Sound & Vision
• ASIN: B00004TA45
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #501,432 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ready To Strike

2. Hunger

3. Shadow Rider

4. Shake Up

5. Attention

6. Breakin' Out

7. Tough Guys

8. Dancing With Desire

9. Second Thoughts

10. Piece Of The Rock

Editorial Reviews

For every Poison, W.A.S.P., and Ratt that made it famous during the reign of hair metal in the 80's, there were plenty of other bands like King Kobra that released metal songs equally full of glam, hairspray, and fury. Drummer Carmine Appice's outfit really presents nothing new to the style, yet still delivers a session of hard rocking, tightly performed songs, with 'Hunger' standing out with its melodic driven moments that wouldn't be out of place on a Trixter record. It's definitely not groundbreaking stuff, but albums like Ready To Strike aren't made for analysis, they're just simply made to rock and roll, and this definitely does the trick. Axe Killer. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic 80's Rock at it's finest., June 16, 2000

By 

"flyingfadr" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready To Strike (Audio CD)

This is one of the 80's most under-rated bands, with one of the most incredible and unknown/under-reated vocalists, Mark Free. Best known for their Title-Track single from the 1980's Hit Movie "Iron Eagle," the band, consisting of: Vocalist, Mark Free; Guitarists, David Michael-Philips & Mick Sweda; Bassist, Johnny Rod; and renown Drummer, Carmine Appice, the bands First CD is much more powerful and raw.Carmine appice's drumming is powerful, driving the songs, while it is Vocalist Mark Free (of Unruly Child, and The Gods) that bring the songs to life. His amazingly powerful vocals combines with a sense of melody that maximizes the intensity of each song.

If you enjoy 80's bands such as Dokken, Icon, Krokus, and Rough Cutt, you you wil love this album a MUST HAVE CD !

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Undiscovered classic, September 23, 2003

By 

Marseagle (Hollywood, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready To Strike (Audio CD)

KING KOBRA came and went with a group of other so called "B" and "C" level metal acts in the mid to late 80's. They were one of a hundred bands that were signed in the wake of L.A. glam metal scene explosion. These guys, lead by Carmine Appice on drums, laid down some great pop metal gems, like Theatre of Pain era Motley Crue, Poison, RATT, and others.

READY TO STRIKE is their 1st album, and it kicks some serious ass. The single "Hunger" was their biggest hit, and introduced them to the metal masses. The albums rock songs, "Ready to Strike", "Hunger", "Shake Up", and "Piece of the Rock" rocked and their slow songs were superb. The song "Tough guys don't cry" is a fantastic power ballad on par with any other at the time. If it was released as a single at the time, these guys would've been as big as Cinderella, Poison, or any other bands that played good hard rock with a glam touch.

Sadly this was their only good album. Their next album "Thrill of a Lifetime" sucks to high heaven. They took a complete pop turn and lost their balls. No pun intened towards the singer of KING KOBRA who after the band retired had a sex change and became a woman.

This is one of those CD's that almost no one bought at the time, but over the years has gained a loyal following. Much like Pretty Boy Floyd's "Leather Boys with Electric Toys" or Vinnie Vincent Invasion's self titled album, this one stands out as a undiscovered classic of the genre. If you like those bands or the pop metal genre, pick up this remastered CD and rock it 80's metal style.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't know what you've missed 'till you've heard this, April 4, 2002

By 

J. Kandany "Kandani" (Indonesia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ready To Strike (Audio CD)

I just got mine last week, and it's totally blown me away! It's better then their second and great album, "Thrill Of A Lifetime".
Usually metal or hard rock music are very 'noisy' but this one literally loud and clear, the drums sound like they play in your room right in front of you, can you imaging it? Fantastic! All keeper no filler.
Audio quality: ***** One of a kind (is it Axe Killer record remastering virtuoso or what?)
Performance: ***** really awesome hard rock
Presentation: ***** 8 pages lyrics, liner notes and 2 color photos

This CD gets solid absolutely 5 stars