Shiraz Lane is a bird of a different feather in the modern world of hard rock in that you can’t fully classify them as a straight up hard rock band, There’s a pop element to their sound and every album they have put out is in some way different from the albums which preceded it. That’s honestly one of the best things about this band in my opinion, I like a band that takes creative swings without fully abandoning their musical identity. Sometimes it works, Sometimes it doesn’t, But it will always eventually lead to something great.
In Vertigo is their fourth full length album and sixth release overall and it finds Shiraz Lane evolving their sound further while keeping in tact the elements that fans know and love about this band.
“Stone Cold Lover” starts things off with some great mid tempo riffs and and infectious backbeat by drummer Ana Vilkkumaa, This song kind of reminds me a bit of “The Devil Is A Woman” by Kissin’ Dynamite. It has a similar feel and theme and it’s just as catchy as that song is. There’s a fantastic guitar solo courtesy of guitarist Jani Laine in the third act of the song, A great start to the record overall.
The party continues with “Dangerous” which I believe was the first single, This is one of those songs I’m talking about when I say there’s a pop element to their sound. That element enhances the rock aspects of this song and I think this song would fit in seamlessly on their Vibrations 1 EP, This is the sort of energetic and catchy song that I love these guys for.
This song has a lot of layers in it and it’s all perfectly mixed and played, Shined to perfection, And the vocal delivery by singer Hannes Kett is as always fantastic. He has one of the most recognizable voices in the rock scene today and his range is impressive. Easily one of the top tracks on the album.
“The Ray Of Light” changes the pace a bit, It begins with a beautiful clean melody and then goes into mid tempo melodic rock territory, Not quite ballad territory but just as infectious. The guitar playing on this song is gorgeous, Every note is packed with emotion and gives the song the lift that it needs for a singer like Hannes to really knock it out of the park, Even though I credit those two elements the whole band deserves credit for how lush and grand this song is.
“Live A Little More” is the sort of feel good rock song that this band is known for, It’s got that pretty semi poppy melody in the verses before giving it a catchy rock chorus. This is a great song that really encourages you to get out and live your best life, This song is insanely catchy and has the feel of a single.
“Babylon” has a little Latin flavor to the drums and melody in this song, It’s even got some brass instruments in it, This song rocks and also is something you can dance to, It’s got a really good groove to it.
“Plastic Heart” goes back to a little more traditional sound by this band, However you want to define that. Powerful playing but more straight forward melodic rock than a lot of these songs are. I LOVE the high note Hannes sings and holds leading into the guitar solo, an absolute epic transition.
“Sayonara Love” is a serviceable enough song, Still enjoyable but feels like a bit of a lull when stacked against the rest of the album.
I know not everyone is going to agree with me on this, The reaction to this song has been mixed in what I’ve seen and I imagine that partially has to do with the subject matter, But in my opinion “Bullshit” is the best song on the album. It casts a scathing and questioning glare at the madness that is currently going on in our world and I find it highly relatable.
Not only that, It’s a great song period. It starts out with a very minimalistic and yet effective piano melody before punchy guitar riffs and a mid tempo drum rhythm kick in. Hannes asks “If we give the people more guns, Will they be peaceful?” Or “If we believe the man on the news, Will we get brainwashed?” And if those aren’t relevant questions to ask in a time filled with lies and political violence I don’t know what is.
Musically this is newer territory for these guys and I’m here for it, There’s a spectacular breakdown kickstarted by some crackling vinyl sounds around the guitar solo. This is a spectacular example of artistic evolution.
“Come Alive” returns things back to the Carnival Days and Vibrations 1 era of Shiraz Lane, Catchy and semi funky rock that will get you moving. I can’t give enough credit to Ana for his drumming on this record, He’s a phenomenal drummer and I think the way his drumming hits and grooves really gives the dynamic backbone for this band to build a more complex sound on, He elevates everyone in this band.
“Brand New Day” caps off the record with another great rocker that feels like both classic Shiraz Lane as well as having elements that feel new.
Shiraz Lane don’t get enough credit for how they constantly push their sound, Let alone the skill of every member of this highly talented band. Plus, The high production value and perfect mixing of the instruments really takes these songs to their maximum potential.
In Vertigo is a fantastic record that should be on the best of 2025 lists of every hard rock fan, It’s packed full of great songs and they are extremely catchy.
In a catalog of great music this album is further proof of what an incredible band Shiraz Lane is.
9/10
