SHAKRA

BACK ON TRACK

Released 2011

Wow this one is a revelation for me and why I’ve not listened to them before is all my loss. Shakra is a class act and the new album – ‘Back On Track’ – is all killer! Opener “B True B You” Is probably all you need to hear to convince yourself it’s one of the best songs I’ve heard this hear, heavy, metallic and majestic with a large portion of melody and harmony. 

Shakra is a band that manages to combine a lot of what I love about music without necessarily being particularly easy to label, sure you could call them Hard Rock, Melodic metal, whatever you like but you’d be doing it for the sake of it – this is Rock N Roll baby!

For me Shakra reminds me of a heavier Bonfire, capable of great melodies, fuelled by some great songs but capable of sticking on the after-burner.

The first half of the record contains some great songs – like ‘I’ll be There’; ‘Crazy’ and the title track and each sounds like a keeper. It’s when we hit ‘When I See You’ that the softer side comes through with an accomplished ballad that’s beautifully written.

Highlights for me have to be the aforementioned opener but it’s hard to find a weak spot with the likes of the melodic pairing of 'Crazy' and 'When I See You' particularly strong. Best of all though is the closer ‘Stronger Than Ever’ with one of the best choruses of the year so far!

By Jo