Album review: SHAMAN’S HARVEST – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns

Shaman's Harvest - Smokin' Hearts & Broken Guns

Mascot [Release date 15.09.14]

If you had a secret liking for ‘Hero’ the Chad Kroeger song that featured Saliva’s Josey Scott in the original re-boot Spiderman movie, you will like Shaman’s Harvest.

The band had some U.S. success with their debut ‘Shine’ (2009) which featured the standout song ‘Dragonfly’ – included here in acoustic format. Surprisingly, the band’s four previous albums (with the exception of that debut) do not seem to be freely available so maybe a re-evaluation/reissue campaign is long overdue?

Vocalist Nathan Hunt was diagnosed with throat cancer at the start of the recording sessions and this no doubt infuses the work with extra passion and emotion.

Starting with ‘Dangerous’, the album grabs you from the start and is filled with Nickelback-patented hooks and riffs, with a nod to Bush and Shinedown, and full of fist-pumping, arena-bound, action. This is reinforced with tracks like the anthemic ‘Ten Million Voices’, and ‘Blood In The Water’ the lyrics of which give us the album title.

Hunt’s vocals are wonderful throughout, but especially on the slower pieces like ‘The End Of Me’ and a superb ‘Silent Voice’.

Perhaps bizarrely there is also a song called – wait for it – ‘Hero’ (not that version) whilst the band also ring the changes with the rocky ‘Country As F**k’ and a cover of Jacko’s ‘Dirty Diana’.

Do the Shaman’s offer anything different in this somewhat overcrowded, and Nickelback-weary world? Consistency of songwriting is always a bonus, but combine this with a lack of the naff, a great vocal (in spite of everything), a powerful urgency and irresistible darkness, this has to be one of the finest albums of its kind this year or any. *****

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)