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[ More Music Reviews ]

Shakra: Mad World

Melodic Heavy Metal Rock

4.5/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.02.2020 | Released: 28.02.2020

Since the late Nineties, Swiss rockers Shakra have consistently released a new studio album about every two to three years. They're closely approaching the legendary status of fellow Swiss heavyweights Gotthard. Shakra returns with their latest and 12th studio album, Mad World.

Shakra

Coming to a new Shakra album is an easy review. One, I like this band, always have. Ergo, there's not a whole lot of objectivity occurring in this writing. Two, as mentioned above, Shakra is consistent, always delivering their version of melodic heavy metal rock. Every song is a fine measure of sharp, yet harmonious, twin guitar riffage, abundant and feisty guitar solos, and plenty of gallop and groove from a robust rhythm section. I've always enjoyed how the bass and drum lines loom large in every Shakra song. They put the heavy in Shakra's metal, the groove in their heavy metal rock. For his part, Mark Fox remains the melodic, bit raspy, somewhat assertive rock vocalist. Of course then, all these things are wrapped up in the basics of song melody and harmony, and catchy refrains. There you go. Now wasn't that easy?

Every song within Mad World bristles with the aforementioned musical markers. However, my favorite heavy metal rockers came with Thousand Kings, Fireline, the damn catchy Too Much Is Not Enough, the short and fast I Still Rock, and the roaring When It All Falls Down. Setting the metal rock aside, Shakra drops a ballad with New Tomorrow, driven mostly by voice and acoustic guitar but, of course, rising to a fine guitar solo finish. Hey, what's not to like. Once more, Mad World finds Swiss heavy hitters Shakra in fine form, delivering another rousing album of their melodic heavy metal rock. Easily recommended.

Terrifiant: Terrifiant

Heavy/Speed Metal

4.0/5.0

The history of Belgium's Terrifiant is a short, ambitious, and tawdry one. In 2019, two mischievous metal dudes, ZZ Slop (g) and Lord TerrifianT (v), meet at a festival ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Once more, Mad World finds Swiss heavy hitters Shakra in fine form, delivering another rousing album of their melodic heavy metal rock. Easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]