SHAKRA: Infected

Cover	Release	Style
	2007-05-18	melodic hardrock
	Label
	www.afm-records.de / www.rockinc.nl
	Website
	www.shakra.ch
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	53:02	AFM 145-2
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	7,5/10
nederlands	Review
In 2005 Shakra was picked up by AFM and they made a positive impression on me with the album ‘Fall’. The Swiss-based band has expanded its success since then with a support performance for Iron Maiden at the Swiss “Spirit of Rock” festival and a tour with Hammerfall and Stratovarius that brought them in no less than twelve different countries. Another highlight in their career was opening for Guns ‘n’ Roses in 2006 in Zurich. So everything goes very well with our Swiss friends who regale the world with some traditional, melodic hard rock in the wake of Krokus and Gotthard. Of course they had to write some new material as well and the result is what we have here, for halfway May ‘Infected’ will be launched at the world. It has become an album without risks that continues the sound of ‘Fall’ (never change a winning team). The opener ‘Make Your Day’ kicks off with high energy and a guitar sound that could have been from a Finnish gothic band as well, but… there we have the voice of Mark Fox and then this similarity ends. His slightly hoarse and rough voice remains a proper feature of the sound of Shakra. And I have absolutely no objection against that, for he easily sails through the whole repertory, to wit vigorous tracks like ‘Inferno’ and ‘Vertigo’; mid-paced songs such as ‘The One’ and ‘Dance With Madness’ (those have a really eighties spirit) and ballads. More about these later, but first I want to emphasize that the guitar skills on this album are the icing on the cake. That is the responsibility of lead guitarist Thom Blunier who also recorded this album in his own studio. One can call him the moving spirit of the band. Like I ticked off before, we have the inevitable ballads. ‘Love Will Find A Way’ is a piano ballad that strongly reminds of the Quireboys, but occluding track ‘Acheron’s Way’ is more a favourite of mine. Acoustic guitars and a melancholic summery atmosphere (does this exist anyway?) that would do well on a barbecue. Don’t look for any deeper reasons. Shakra gives us uncomplicated entertainment during the common things in life. Furthermore we have a large number of mid-paced rockers with excellent guitar work that suit the global image. An outstanding track like ‘Walk On Water’ (on the previous one) is missing this time, that’s why the album got a half point less than its predecessor. For fans of Krokus and Gotthard it remains fine to have a bit more choice in the record shop. The limited edition includes a bonus track and a videoclip.
Musicians
Mark Fox: vocals Thom Blunier: lead guitars Thomas Muster: rhythm guitars Oli Lindner: bass Roger Tanner: drums
Tracklist
Make Your Day (3:52) Inferno (4:02) The One (4:22) Playing With Fire (4:50) Dance With Madness (3:34) Love Will Find A Way (3:57) Vertigo (4:14) The Conquest (4:13) Higher Love (3:53) Cardiophobia (3:36) Look At Me (4:07) The Other Side (4:11) Acheron’s Way (4:12)
Discography


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