CD-Reviews

http://metalliville.com/

SHAKRA – Infected
(AFM - 2006)

I have to do a bit of apologising to Swiss hard rock maestroes Shakra having missed their previous album ‘Fall’. My first taste came with preceding belter, ‘Rising’ already nearly four years ago and I was pulled from then on. So thanks to Mr Exley’s help I am a little more fortunate to obtain a copy of sixth album ‘Infected’ and boy would I have been heartbroken if this one had passed me by as well.
Europe’s no1 Bonfire-alikes bite back with teeth and leave a hell of a load of marks with these thirteen numbers. Frontman, Mark Fox’s Leissman-like rasp propels these numbers along as much a part of the team as the four chaps who surround him, and tunes like ‘Vertigo,’, ‘Inferno’, ‘Love Will Find A Way’, ‘The Other Side’ and ‘Look At Me’ sustain the higher octane hard rock onslaught of their previous records.

The guitarists rhythm lines continue to keep an on-off Metallica-ish edge from before but this seems to be a unproblematic factor in their formula as they do have quite a sizeable metal following on the mainland. They have recently played in 12 different countries supporting Stratovarious and have also opened for Iron Maiden, and while Bruce and the boys have since been back over here again, the following needs to be a bit larger to finance a Shakra tour on this side of the channel. If a few (...thousand) of you treat yourselves to a copy of this beauty however, that may still be likely.

Lovely!

9.5/10

By Glenn Milligan

http://www.reflectionsofdarkness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4550&Itemid=44

Reflections Of Darkness

Written by Natalie Perez
Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Title: Everest
Artist: Shakra
Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Release Date: 17th April 2009
Label: AFM Records

Album Review

With the releases of their first attempts ‘Shakra’ (1998) and ‘Moving Force’ (1999) and touring with GREAT WHITE and URIAH HEEP the early span of SHAKRA was doing quite well. But their breakthrough period didn't invade until ‘Power Ride’ (2001) which brought a tragedy to lead singer Peter Wiedmer who was forced to leave because of illness, who was soon replaced with Mark Fox who immediately filled his shoes and put his name in the invisible space. From then on SHAKRA has never been the same but become much better with their latest instalment ‘Everest’, an easy to handle rock and roll ride with a dash of heavy metal mix-ups in between. The tempo brought on showcases the music's creativeness the band can present especially on such tracks as ‘Love & Pain’, ‘Right between the Eyes’ and ‘Insanity’, each of which shows their own style and uniqueness to the music.

The guitars for instance play a non-stop riff on ‘Love & Pain’, which easily breaks away with a solo that fades off into a drumming tactic that blends in with the vocal sides of Mark's capturing talents and skills. When it comes to ‘Right between the Eyes’, you get socked right in between the eyes with the roaring riffing action of the guitars which goes hand in hand with the drumming beats and smoothing vocals as the song crafts together building up slowly as each note is built little by little; giving this tone that real raw but heavy rock and roll side and feel. ‘Insanity’ starts off rather slowly then goes into a fast racing tempo beat that speeds up as the song progresses the guitars going into a non-stop soloing riff action as the vocals come in soon after breaking away letting the drums take over in their own creative solo going right back into the guitar action. SHAKRA's ‘Everest’ is a crafted piece of work and shall please the rock and roller buried deep inside of you.

http://metal-guide.blogspot.com/2009/03/shakra-everest.html

Metal-Guide

EVEREST
New album for the Swiss Hard Rock band and I am sure that this is an album that the fans will love. The band is playing melodic Hard Rock, ofter mixing enough Power Metal though, something that makes their music interesting and fun to listen to. Melodies are very important here, dominating the songs, but not weakening the whole result in any way. What's best, is that the singer has not the typical high pitched vocals, but a rather harsh voice. Good arrangements, with all the right ingredients in the correct amount, blended together in the proper way, create an album that is honest and enjoyable from the first to the last minute. What's most important though, is that the band is playing music that is catchy, melodic, well written and equally well performed. Music that sticks in your mind, makes you wanna sing along and move your head along with the rhythm. A band worth checking out.

10/10

Metal Revolution

Shakra did it!
After more then ten years of existing and creating some decent music, Shakra managed to create THE album of their career and the funny thing is; they didn't change their formula at all.

So here we have another typical power metal album from the Swiss band, but the difference this time around is that they did everything right.
It's the nuances that matter so much that have made this album so much better then any of their previous releases.

The fact that this is nothing short of perfectly produced album is a very important factor for any album, but it's especially tricky business for power metal album which border somewhere between very melodic almost pop like melodies and some hard rock/heavy music.

Album's simple yet powerful drumming both playing-wise and sound-wise reminds of some of the albums produced by Bob Rock in the beginning of the 90's. Placed perfectly on that are the other instruments and the vocals. These are not only balancing perfectly, but they also balance perfectly with songwriting and balancing on that extremely thin line between cheesy and heavy, balls and balls of stone.
Another thing that works so well on this album is that Shakra has created some small melody twists in those ultra-melodic choruses , the twists that take the melodies in a new territories – bald and energetic while remaining just as melodic.

And this style continues for the most part of this twelve songs long opus, It culminates with “Right Between The Eyes”, but unfortunately in the last part of the album the good impression of this album is somewhat blurred by the only two songs not living up the the standard of the rest of the album, faceless “Dirty Money” and cheesy “Hopeless”.

Still the overall impression is impressive, especially taken into consideration that the band din not change their approach to making music radically.


Metal-Revolution

especially for dyn:

review in hungarian:

http://www.hardrock.hu/?q=node/9328

yonaka schrieb:

especially for dyn:

review in hungarian:

http://www.hardrock.hu/?q=node/9328

thx

Hardrock Haven
http://hardrockhaven.net/online/2009/shakra-everest/

Though present for over a decade delivering their massive melodic rock, the band has built a firm following of fans. Never breaking big, the band’s thrive and growth is tremendous. With every release the band took one step forward to make a big leap finally with Everest. More mature than ever, and more powerful than most.

Variation is plenty proven by the wonderful opening hammer “Ashes to Ashes” and the magnificent semi-ballad “The Illusion of Reality,” perhaps their best effort to date. Pulled forward by the fine guitar tandem Mnuster/Blunier, of which the last is one hell of a solo-ist as well. His playing is razorsharp and he delivers with finesse. Spicing up the well composed and arranged material perfectly. A rock solid foundation is laid down by the construction workers with timing like a Swiss precision watch. Tanner is rock solid and powerful, Pfister is delivering a solid rocktone with a slightly groovy outburst here and there.

All is topped by the excellent vocal work of Mark Fox who is not pitching it up. Clear and powerful wherever needed, or emotional and passionate in the ballads (especially “Why”) and mid tempo rockers. Fox does combine the best of Steve Lee and Marc Storace to blend it into his own well fitting signature sound. “Love + Pain” is a showcase of the bands excellent skills and powerful teamwork. Driving guitar riffs that grab you by the throat, and excellent vocals which take you slowly to the harmonious chorus. It sticks… not at first… but allow a spin or two! This really grows on ya.

“Right between the Eyes” is another example, as where “Insanity” slowly builds towards the state of mind depicted in the lyrics. Raspy vocals over a buzz saw riff which slowly grows towards the chorus. Another side of the band is displayed on the one off progressive “The Journey” which displays diversity and a keen ear for composing. Ominous sweep picking which slowly ignites into a rock bombshell. Never pretentious, but close to their trademark sound, the band explores their musical horizon.

Everest is the mountain climbed by the Suisse band on this last album. A pretentious title which sets the stakes pretty high. Nonetheless Shakra manages to create a rock solid masterpiece and live up to the expectations of the title. An album with powerful playing and drop dead gorgeous harmonies, captivating and honest. Not renewing, who cares! This is a precise timed bombshell!

HRH Rating: 8.8/10