SHAKRA

Shakra are a Swiss band (perhaps the album should have been called Matterhorn!) consisting of Mark Fox on vocals, Thom Blunier and Thomas Muster on guitars and the rhythm section of drummer Roger Tanner and bassist Dominik Pfister. Although Switzerland doesn't have the greatest rock pedigree, Shakra are following in the footsteps of such bands as Krokus and the avant garde Celtic Frost, who originated in Zurich, so there is a tradition for them to follow. ‘Everest’ would seem to be, from the information available, Shakra's 6th full length release since their eponymous debut of 1998 and is another milestone in a career that has seen them support such luminaries of the rock world as Iron Maiden, Guns n Roses, Uriah Heep and Great White. ‘Everest’ opens with ‘Ashes to Ashes’ which is an up-tempo rocker with a catchy chorus, a well performed guitar solo and a really tight performance from the rhythm section. ‘Love & Pain’ follows and carries on down the same stylistic path laid by its predecessor, albeit with a System of a Down style intro, again featuring extremely competent musicianship but perhaps lacking that spark that sets it apart from other bands in the 'mainstream' heavy rock field. In fact, most of the songs on this release are either in this up-tempo, immediately catchy and slighty commercial vein or are slower paced and more balladic but still just as catchy and commercial. I don't want to give the impression that this is a lightweight release because that's not the case - some of the riffing and, particularly, the rhythm section are as heavy and pounding as anything to be found on, for example, most of Metallica's post ‘And Justice for All’ releases. An example of this is ‘Regressive Evolution’, a track that features a cracking riff by way of an intro and, by now familiar, an exemplary display from bassist and drummer. It also contains some relatively intelligent lyrics concerning man’s inhumanity to man. In summary, the individual performances by the band on this release, and its big, powerful production, are difficult to criticise and I really like this record but, as previously mentioned, I feel that Shakra lack that certain something that would otherwise put them in the major league of European rock bands.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

AFM Records

Album

EVEREST

Review by Dave Uphill

RUNNING TIME:

51:36

RELEASE DATE:

17th April 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Ashes To Ashes
2) Love & Pain
3) Let Me Lie My Life To You
4) The Illusion Of Reality
5) Why
6) The Journey
7) Regressive Evolution
8) Anybody Out There
9) Right Between The Eyes
10) Dirty Money
11) Insanity
12) Hopeless

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Switzerland

"...the individual performances by the band on this release, and its big, powerful production, are difficult to criticise...but I feel that Shakra lack that certain something that would otherwise put them in the major league of European rock bands."