When it comes to Swiss rockers Shakra there’s no giving up or giving in. For 26 years the band has been releasing records in an even stream without making it to the big league despite a whole bunch of stellar records but that seems to be of no concern to the band. Thankfully. That said, just like fellow landsmen Krokus and Gotthard, Shakra is a big deal in their native Switzerland but for the rest of the world not so much. Being a late bloomer myself when it comes to this band I can only wonder why they’re not bigger than they are. With powerful, heavy, hard-rocking yet melodic songs where a whole bunch of them come with big hit-potential they really should have reached more people. But the band is still around, they’re still making solid albums and here’s yet another one – album # 13.
The opening single “The Way It Is” starts out with an acoustic, twangy slide guitar but continues heavy and powerful with a shit-hot guitar and a robust riff on a big groove. It’s upbeat, edgy and in-your-face with a ballsy beat and a distinct main-melody. As a single, the tune isn’t exactly hit-laden but the chorus is punchy and memorable. A good tune. There’s a clear metal-twist to the uptempo hard-rocker “The Matrix Unfolds”. It’s hard as a rock with razor-sharp riffage, kidney-punching rhythms, attitude and aggression. The tune comes with a big live-feel and a band firing on all cylinders with a fist-in-the-face refrain on top. Very good.
The title-track and the album’s first taster comes in a slower tempo with an underlying darkness in its amosphere and contains some gritty, rough-edged riffage on a hard-hitting rhythm. The gloomy outlook contrasts sharply with the distinct and instant vocal melodies but it works like a charm. It’s a pretty straight forward number with a repetitive yet catchy chorus that really hits home right from go. Great stuff. “Devil Left Hell” is one riff-happy and crunchy rocker. It’s a mid-paced tune with a darker touch on a meaty rhythm, a classic Hard Rock belter with a Metal edge but still melodic. Good one.
Released as a single albeit in a live version “On The Wild Side” is a straight forward, standard Hard Rock stomper on the sleazier side with both a nod towards AC/DC and an 80’s melodic Hard Rock twist which gives it a bit of a New Roses touch. It’s a crunchy and raunchy number, live-friendly with striking melodies and a direct chorus. Good one. On a poppier note, “Old Irish Song” is upbeat and uplifting on groovy rhythms with memorable melodies and hooks that’s carried by a solid, quite heavy beat. The main riff catches on directly, its rhythmic structure makes it perfect for the live environment and the chorus is one big hook-fest. This should be a single. Killer stuff.
Latest single “Tell Her That I’m Sorry” brings on more held-back verses on a juicy stomp but the chorus takes the faster road with a more kicking drum-pattern. The vocal melodies holds an almost saddening ambience going for an emotional arrangement but every melody holds a distinct hook and the refrain is really memorable. Good one. The ballad “As I Lay Down To Sleep” is completely sugar-free and cheeseless. It might be a slow-burner but it do hold a chunky rhythm and a a strong riff where the main melody grabs a hold right away and the power ballad flirting chorus is majestic and catchy as damn. Great stuff with big hit-potential if ever released as a single.
More AC/DC flirtings comes along when “House Of Rock” commands us to get up on our feet. It’s straight ahead and in your face with a robust and a dirty guitar that riffs away and the poundy rhythm-beat is even headbang-friendly. It’s energetic and firey and brings on a spark that will kick ass live. It might be bit standard but it sure sweats. Good one. “Walls Of Hate” opens with some sombre and fragile acoustic guitars but goes electric pretty fast when Thom Blunier and Thomas Munster treats us with some staccato riffing and the rhythm section of Dominik Pfister (bass) and Tiger Tanner (drums) sends a bouncy rhythm our way. It’s an in-your-face rocker but also very melodic with a hooky refrain. A good, juicy track.
The upbeat and earthy “Between The Lines” is a busy hard-rocker on a straight forward rhythm structure. With beefy guitar riffings and a cracking beat the song goes off doing its best to kick our asses. It’s a fat, heavy yet melodic Hard Rock number with both a darker edge and an 80’s smelling outlook. The melodies is concise and distinct, it’s live-friendly and the chorus grabs a hold right from go. Good stuff. Closing track “As Long As I’m Alive” is a faster paced rocker with bluesy licks, a Classic Rock structure and a swinging boogie-rock touch that makes the song come across as a heavier ZZ Top with a touch of Great White. It’s a good song but it feels like it’s more a live-track than a studio ditto.
If you’re already a fan of Shakra there’s not that much to think about, you’ll probably enjoy this record too. Style-wise nothing has changed in Shakra’s world – their brand of classic melodic Hard Rock with Marc Fox’s very personal voice is easy to recognize. Just like a new AC/DC record there’s nothing new or revolutionary here, no surprises. That being said, you don’t buy a Shakra record for surprises, you buy it because you dig the band and what we’re given here is classic Shakra. This is a band with a high lowest level and that hasn’t changed. For fans of harder edged yet very melodic Hard Rock that hasn’t heard this band, it’s time to do so or you’ll be missing out. This is a really good, solid record albeit not world-changing.
7/10
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Tracklist:
1. The Way It Is
2. The Matrix Unfolds
3. Invincible
4. Devil Left Hell
5. On The Wild Side
6. Old Irish Song
7. Tell Her That I’m Sorry
8. As I Lay Down To Sleep
9. House Of Rock
10. Walls Of Hate
11. Between The Lines
12. As Long As I’m Alive
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