Back on Track??
I'm possibly not best suited to review a band who are now on their eight album (their first with a new singer) and this is my sole one and only experience of the band. But hey, music is music, and all I can do is listen to what's in front of me
Back to this 'new singer' business first. There's nothing more threatening to a band's line up than when the singer, who has largely helped to raise the band to a height that is sensational right across Europe, then turns round and tells you, the other members, that he's off and it's all over? But in the case of Bern based Swiss Hard Rock merchants Shakra, it's probably been a blessing in disguise rather than a burden, and although this, their 8th album, carries a very definitive title, and in a Ronseal moment it literally does so because it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The crystal clear, warm sound, the exceedingly tight riffs, the merciless precision of the rhythm section and last but not least, the new singer, all give this band a chance to really win over a broader audience.
With opener 'B True B You', Shakra have picked a suitable album title, but although the music is pretty tight, new guy Paresh seems a perfect foil for Shakra's blend of musical style, I woulnt exactly co overboard and say its anything other than 'good' to 'fairly good'. 'Crazy', a straight Shakra rocker with a catchy chorus and Alice Cooper like drawl from Prakesh; 'Back On Track', a power riff with great purpose, and 'Yesterday's Gone' and 'Stronger Than Ever'. It's 'When I See You' the first single, that really proves why Prakesh is the key to this Shakra's continuation and possible success
Guitarists Thomas Muster and Thom Blunier continue with the driving material later in the album, 'Unspoken Truth' is a storming rocker, but once again the music keeps on pulling you back to Prakesh and the feeling that this singer, has come through with shining colours.
After a recent good run with albums being released in the early part of 2011, I'm not so certain if Shakra can make the jump to the next level (8 albums in this era is no mean feat and proves that there is an audience for them and they are at least doing something right). 'Back on Track' is a great name for a band on the comeback trail, but with an oversaturation of this type of music, it will have to take something special, and possibly another album with the impressive new guy carrying the torch, before success is attained. Its good, but not good enough.