SHA-BOOM - The Race Is On (2012)

*

Norwegians SHA-BOOM become a sensation in Scandinavia at the end of the eighties / earlier nineties with their mixture of poppy radio-rock and commercial AOR. They returned in 2005 with only original member Dag Finn at the helm (even though ex- bassist Peo Thyren has helped out with some lyrics) and Tommy Denander as partner in crime.
The result was "The Race Is On" which now is being re-released worldwide slightly remixed.

Dag Finn assembled a cast of excellent players for this album who need no introduction to those who follow the Swedish scene (check the awesome personnel below). No doubt Tommy Denander's contacts enabled this new effort to have a record label behind it.
"The Race Is On" is million times harder than the band's earlier albums, combining catchy melodic rock sounds with rockin' Scandi AOR.
Dag's vocals are a cross between Stage Dolls' Torstein Flakne and Bonfire's Claus Lessman with a raspy touch, while the musicianship doesn't need to be questioned, as all are well known quality musicians and play at their game here.

The overal sound and style in "The Race Is On" reminds you Euro Melodic Rock acts such as Casanova, Return, Evenrude, and more recently; Rydell & Quick.
The harder and rockier approach in this new encarnation of Sha-Boom are clear in opener "Blah Blah Blah" and the killer uptempo 'Into The Fire'.
There are some truly osum melodic rock tunes as "Why Did I..?" (terrific), "Somewhere In The Dark", the midtempo "22nd Of October" and the moving "This Is My Life", while "My Home Town" adds AOR to the melodic rock recipe.
Sha-Boom bring to the table some of their melodic poppy origins; "Message Of Love", the title track "The Race Is On" and "Big Bang" are just three tracks that scream out for radio play.


"The Race Is On" is full of catchy hooks and heavenly choruses, instant easy to listen tunes that leaves you with a big smile on the face.
This is pure Scandi Melodic Rock AOR with an updated sound (courtesy of Tommy Denander) and fun, feel-good lyrics and melodies.
If you slipped Sha-Boom's "The Race Is On" back in a day, don't miss it now.
The Scandies do it yet again.


01 - Blah, Blah, Blah
02 - Somewhere In The Dark
03 - My Hometown
04 - The Race Is On
05 - 22nd Of October
06 - Into The Fire
07 - Get The Party Started
08 - Message Of Love
09 - Here I Am
10 - Big Bang
11 - This Is My Life
12 - Why Did I..?
13 - Fortune And Fame


Dag Finn - Vocals
Tommy Denander - Guitars, Keyboards

Kee Marcello (Europe) - Guitar
Steiner Hagen (Sayit) - Guitar
Jonas Karlberg - Guitar
Bo Reimer (Tata Vega) - Guitar
Sayit Dolen (Sayit) - Guitar
John Leven (Europe) - Bass
Marcel Jacob (Talisman, Humanimal) - Bass
Joel Starander (Kharma, Heartbreak Radio) - Bass
EZ Gomer (Liberty N' Justice, Jet Circus) - Bass
Mic Michaeli (Europe) - Keyboards
Jorgen Ingestrom (Fingerprints) - Keyboards
Ulf Steneberg - Keyboards
Dan Helgesen (Phenomena, Salute) - Keyboards
Ian Haugland (Europe) - Drums
Christian Ekwall - Drums
Daniel Flores (Alfonzetti, Frozen Rain) - Drums
Anders Borjesson - Drums
Thomas Vikstrom (Talk of the Town) - Backing Vocals

Produced by Dag Finn & Tommy Denander




BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Race-Is-On/dp/B008YQPSP4