SHAKRA - review added 1st April 2009
Album Review: Everest (2009)
For fans of: hard rock... and occasional forays into power and pomp metal
Shakra are a hard rock band from Switzerland. Consisting of Mark Fox (vocals), Thom Blunier (lead guitars), Thomas Muster (guitars), Dominik Pfister (bass) and Roger Tanner (drums), the band have been steadily unleashing albums since 1998.
Their sound is unfathomably hard to define. They are certainly a melodious band. They constantly use well choreographed harmonies, acoustic guitar inserts, and strong hints of pomp, but there is a weight behind the music that makes many of the songs insanely powerful. They never become 'heavy' as such but, donkeys beware, they definitely know how to kick ass.
Singer Mark Fox has a complex yet pleasant voice. he's never going to trouble the greatest vocalist's in the world, but there isn't a hint of bad in anything he does. He has a fluid and even tone with a mildly gravelly lower end. I suppose he's a bit like a fish tank, but with a good set of vocal chords.
The guitars, bass and drumming are all perfectly adequate too. Shakra come across as a very well balanced band. Nothing stands out as amazing, nothing is obviously lacking. It's actually quite refreshing to hear such equality in a group of musicians. Even the production is spot on: it's great, but still has a modicum of character.
Opening track 'Ashes To Ashes' is a loud and wild song with a university degree in over-the-top-ness. The bridge and chorus are jolly contagious and the soloing in the middle is supported by a bucket full of truly fat rhythms. Second song 'Love And Pain' drops the tempo, but the chorus is possibly even more catchy.
'Let Me Lie My Life To You' immediately races off into the sunset with a bundle of fabulous guitar playing. Shakra, it has to be said, morph into a melodic, pounding version of Disturbed on this track. Mark Fox momentarily transforms himself into David Draiman, although in all fairness he doesn't make silly monkey noises... which is a good thing. 'Why' is the album's first ballad style offering and it ain't 'alf bad. It's an intriguing take on the typical love song. It's slow and vaguely heart-rending, but still thumpingly loud.
'The Journey' speeds things back up again with plenty of Zakk Wylde style guitar shrieks. The bass-heavy chorus is one of the finest on the album, and the changes in pace and attack during the track are hugely memorable. 'Anybody Out There', a mid-paced melodic number, has a fairly average, nondescript verse, but again the chorus will take you breath away.
'Right Between The Eyes' starts off with a superbly heavy guitar sound. It's a wonderful noise that continues through the song. In complete contrast to the previous track, it has an amazing verse and bridge, then falls off the boil just as it reaches the climax. Great song though. Final track 'Hopeless' is another slow brooding ballad. As the title may suggest, it's a downbeat number, but it's strangely moorish and gets better every time you hear it.
Purely for the quality of the individual songs, Everest is the release of the year so far. There isn't a duffer anywhere and most tracks boast a wonderful chorus, not to mention sublime writing and musicianship. But... as an actual album it doesn't fare so well. The songs are superb, but they suffer from a lack of variety. Many of them follow an identical plan and have annoyingly similar sounds. It's a shame because, with a little more variation this could have been a real winner.
Check out... All of it, but maybe not in one go.
Track List:
01. Ashes To Ashes
02. Love & Pain
03. Let Me Lie My Life To You
04. The Illusion Of Reality
05. Why
06. The Journey
07. Regressive Evolution
08. Anybody Out There
09. Right Between The Eyes
10. Dirty Money
11. Insanity
12. Hopeless
Label: AFM Records
Artist's websites: Shakra , MySpace
