The Kingsnakes

Detroit's taste for guttural rock 'n' roll isn't relegated to the downtown scenester set. Out on the west side, bands such as the Kingsnakes have spent years blasting paint off bar walls with a different sort of Motor City noise.

The quintet's debut album, "Supernatural Disaster," is a crunching assault of jagged riffs, refried Southern boogie and slices of '70s-styled metal. This is Detroit rock the old-fashioned way: tattooed, long-haired and loud, with a menacing glint in the eye. Produced by Kenny Olson -- best known for his day job as Kid Rock's guitarist -- the nine-track album rarely pauses for breath.

Vocalist Thomas Mann is a yowler, locking in with the squawling leads of guitarist Elliott Moses to ignite fire on songs like "Shake It" and the closing title track. Only on "Plastic Man," midway through the disc, does drummer Stephen Pelloni ease back the tempo, but the song's simmering, gutsy blues keep the energy intact.

It's their first album, but these guys are veterans of the local scene, and the intuitive ensemble chops are apparent throughout the disc. While the Kingsnakes won't get the glamorous garage press served up to bands like the White Stripes, those in the hunt for authentic Detroit rock would be wise to put their ears to this.
- Detroit Free Press

There is no secret that music from around these here parts is getting hotter than an eighth-grade make-out session in the school's boiler room during sixth hour. The Kingsnakes follow in the tradition of acts like the MC5 and The Stooges, and wave the Detroit Rock City flag with irony-free pride. With tunes like "Shake It" and "Supernatural Disaster," there is no question the The Kingsnakes plan to bring the rock, with amps turned up not just to 11, but possibly to 11 and a half or 12! By shows end, it will be clear that The Kingsnakes are as Detroit as it gets. Long Neck Goose are set to open the show. - Real Detroit Weekly

So, in all honesty, I didn’t know very much at all about The Kingsnakes before downing a few barley beverages and heading to The Magic Stick for the band’s CD release party a few months ago. I mean, there was the obvious stuff about The Kingsnakes being a straight-up no frills barroom rock band, and it was fairly common knowledge that Detroit guitar wrangler Danny Methric use to sling axe for the ‘Snakes … Outside of that, though, I’m afraid that I was fairly clueless (yeah, I know – what else is new, right?).

That night was my introduction to some good live rockin’, indeed. Falling somewhere amongst the guitar rock influence of bands like Bloodrock and AC/DC, The Kingsnakes chugged out riff after riff and solo after solo like it was something all five members of the band were just divined to do together. Of course, that night a copy of the band’s Supernatural Disaster CD was snatched up, and that fact eventually led me here, to the beginning of yet another journey as CD Reviewer Man.

Upon first listen, the commanding tone of the guitar solos in this collection of songs really sticks in the brain. Elliott Moses absolutely nails everything he attempts on the leads, and while not every song on the disc is an arena rock anthem, the disc as a whole is much stronger for his work.

As far as the songs go, most everything here fits under the ‘70’s rock fare’ department in some way. “Messin’” is a jangly southern rocker in the vein of Lynyrd Skynyrd, while the stop-and-go rhythms of “Pussyfoot” back rhythm guitars that would’ve sounded right at home within the Led Zeppelin catalogue. “The Wick” is a dirgy stomp with a killer riff and some slide guitar and harmonica flourishes. The album’s best rock number is the album-opening “Whore on a Dragon,” with its killer rhythm riff, multiple guitar solos, and weirdly sing-song, 70’s rock wail scat-style chorus courtesy of Thomas Mann. Pound for pound, though, the album’s best track is the slow-burning “Plastic Man,” which starts as a psychedelic lull before building up to a bluesy guitar solo wail.

Admittedly, the band does sound better in concert than on disc, as it seems that the live atmosphere gives the band’s sound an extra bit of oomph that seems to be missing from the production work here. Still, though, the fact remains that Supernatural Disaster is a fun little rock album with some impressive guitar heroics.



- Motorcityrocks.com

The Kingsnakes don't come near approaching metal on their heaviest songs. The singer uses an accent somewhere between Jim Dandy and David Lee Roth when onstage, and the lead guitarist is an index of Rock Guitar Poses. So why the hell am I reviewing this? Because they fucking rock, that's why!

If you know me, you know that I listen to almost as much classic rock as I do metal, so The Kingsnakes showing up here shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. I'm a sucker for the guitar-based bands of the 70's. Cream, Mountain, BOC, and Steppenwolf come to mind, as do the lesser-known personal faves Leafhound and Budgie. The Kingsnakes deliver on all fronts. 'Whore On A Dragon' swaggers like The Cult covering Foghat, and the Kenny Olson (Twisted Brown Trucker) production is just sloppy enough to work . No, it doesn't sound like The Kingsnakes are playing in your living room. It sounds more like they're that noisy rock band from downstairs that you secretly wish would invite you down to party. Party's what it's all about on Supernatural Disaster, so don't expect to hear any power ballads or whining about how their dads never took them to hockey games. With all the UK-influenced "garage rock" clogging the pipes nowadays, it's good to see a band from Detroit kick it out in an unashamedly American style. The Kingsnakes are the bastard children of Van Halen's Diver Down, Night In The Ruts-era Aerosmith, and the Motor City's own MC5. Elliot Moses' guitar bleeds some of the most convincing leads I've heard since Frampton left Humble Pie and started putting out shit like 'Do You Feel Like We Do'. There's a bit of southern flair here as well, epscially in 'Plastic Man', with it's echoes of Blackfoot or Molly Hatchet. 'Pussyfoot' and the title track close down Supernatural Disaster, and still manage to leave me wanting another song or two. That's the mark of a good first album, though, and I'm sure I haven't heard the last from these guys.

I caught The Kingsnakes by accident at Harleyfest 2004, and they were the only local band putting on enough of a show for me to actually take out my camera and start snapping photos. The only thing I'd like to see is a more full production on the next one, but Supernatural Disaster succeeds in being just what it's supposed to be. A damn fine rock 'n' roll album. While rest of the world is busy making Jack White into a Hollywood pinup, and Kid Rock's making himself into David Allen Coe Jr., The Kingsnakes are reminding us why it's called Detroit ROCK City.

- Rebelx.org