SHAKRA - Powerplay (2013)

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Swiss hard rockers SHAKRA, originally from Bern, have been together since the mid-nineties and they are still around with 3 original band members.
Almost 20 years in the business has enabled them to hit the German and Swiss album charts, play countless gigs and festivals, yet the band never made it big in UK and America.
With their brand new album "Powerplay" released today Shakra are willing to change that.

Throughout its long career Shakra has always been a source of great rocking tunes with catchy lyrics without being cheesy, added by a range of undemanding riffing.
Diversity has never been the band's integral elements in their song making process, yet their material also peaked to various places playing heavier tunes on the verge of metal while still letting the '80s hard rock lead the way of their European mixed with American motivated music.
Well, "Powerplay" is Shakra's more commercial and melodic oriented album to date.

"Powerplay" is plenty of meaty riff work and solos smattered throughout, crushing drums and the catchy choruses with an '80s feel typical from the band, but this time with many tracks leaning on Euro Melodic Hard Rock, as the effective opener "Life Is Now".
Second track "The Mask" is a solid rocker with an excellent tempo and superb twin guitar attack, followed by one of the highlights on the CD, the melodic hard rock blaster "Higher".
On "Wonderful Life" Shakra shows again their intention to reach a wider audience. It's a traditional power ballad in a classic way; raspy vocals, strong drums and melodious sustained guitars. Really well crafted.
In the goodie "Because Of You" I hear a vibe of Whitesnake, while "Save You From Yourself" has a sprinkle of Euro hard 'n heavy in the muscular chorus.
"Don't Keep Me Hanging" has a wonderful classic hard rock hook, and "Dream Of Mankind" is driven by groovy guitars and thumping drums.

Shakra is one of the better European Hard Rock acts that seem to have survived the test of time. All their albums are solid and coherent with the band's roots.
"Powerplay" is not the exception - more than that - it's the Helvetians best album to date plenty of '80s inspired melodies, sparking choruses, raspy toned vocals and excellent six-string work.
While retaining their trademark hard edge, this new CD is more melodic and stylized than anything Shakra has recorded so far.
"Powerplay" is the kind of album that any self respecting hard rocker will love, classic (melodic this time) Hard Rock that will make you happy the genre is not dead.
Recommended.


01. Life Is Now
02. The Mask
03. Higher
04. Wonderful Life
05. Dear Enemy
06. Save You From Yourself
07. Don't Keep Me Hanging
08. Dream Of Mankind
09. Stevie
10. Because Of You
11. Secret Hideaway
12. Too Good To Be True

John Prakesh - Vocals
Thom Blunier - Guitars
Thomas Muster - Guitars
Dominik Pfister - Bass
Roger Tanner - Drums




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SHAKRA - Back On Track (2011)

Swiss rockers Shakra are surely no strangers among fans of melodic hard rock. In a period of twelve years the band has released seven studio albums, a live album and a DVD, played countless and has grown out to be a hard value within the genre.
From the fifth studio album, ‘Rising’ (2003), vocalist/front man Mark Fox was the voice and the face of the band, and let’s be honest; he did a tremendous job.
So when he decided to leave the band after the fantastic ‘Everest’ album, I was afraid that Shakra would never be the same again.

A new vocalist was found in the yet-unknown John Prakesh and the band started working on a new album.
The eight studio cd is entitled "Back On Track" and they couldn’t have found a better-fitting title.
From the opening track, "B True B You", onward the band makes a strong start and shows not to have strayed from their musical path. The stronger guitar sound that they revealed on ‘Everest’ is again present and the song rocks delightfully.
As soon as Prakesh opens his throat he immediately blows all doubts and questions away with his beautiful voice and strong vocal performances. His voice does show a lot of similarity with Fox’s and the somewhat hoarse sound that Fox’s voice had – and which had been his trademark on Shakra’s music – can fortunately also be heard back in Prakesh.

This new album is packed full of '80s tinged melodic hard rockers such as the title track, "I’ll Be", "Brand New Day", "Stronger Than Ever" or the magnificent "Crazy" and see for yourself if it’s possible to sit still.
"MMTWGR" is maybe the more modern hard rock song of the entire disc, and last track "Stronger Than Ever" features an anthemic chorus which gets stuck in your head immediately.
These gentlemen however have also talent for ballads and fortunately we also get that with "When I See You", "Yesterday’s Gone" and the beautiful "Lonesomeness". And also in these songs Prakesh stands his ground and doesn’t drop any stitches.


"Back On Track" has again become a diverse album and has all the typical Shakra elements and influences: the 'americanized' Whitesnake, Gotthard, Pink Cream 69, Pretty Maids and many '80s hair / glam rock bands.
The music sounds very accessible with easy to sing-a-long choruses but strong riffing and some hard edge. Production is big and tight.
Everything put together makes this Shakra’s strongest album to date without doubt.


01 - B True B You
02 - I'll Be
03 - Crazy
04 - Back On Track
05 - When I See You
06 - MMTWGR
07 - Yesterday's Gone
08 - Someday
09 - Lonesomeness
10 - Unspoken Truth
11 - Brand New Day
12 - Stronger Than Ever


John Prakesh : Vocals
Thom Blunier : Guitars
Dominik Pfister : Bass, Keyboards
Thomas Muster : Guitars
Roger Tanner : Drums





http://www.myspace.com/shakrarock
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