AFM Records [Release date 28.02.20]
“Mad World” is Shakra’s 12th studio album, and it’s a lot like the previous 11. That’s a relief. Thomas Muster’s and Thom Blunier’s economic riffs continue to drive the music, and along with prodigal son, Mark Fox, they continue to mine a narrow seam, but they dig deep and frequently come up with solid gold.
In the tradition of Krokus, AC/DC and maybe The Angels, they’ve pursued the perfection of the rock riff form for the last 25 years. On “Mad World” it sounds seamless, intuitive, and always remarkably lean and confident.
So, in common with the back catalogue, dry-as-a-bone riffola, sharp axe soloing and spare, unshowy choruses abound. Sometimes beautifully understated, like ‘Too Much Is Not Enough’ and ‘A Roll Of The Dice’. Sometimes steamrollering, flattening everything in their path, as on ‘Fireline’ and ‘When He Comes Around’.
It gives rise to the notion that once their motorised verses and compact choruses have been recorded, the band spend hours of studio time paring them back, jettisoning anything remotely superfluous. What you might also observe is that tangled among the taut, tense, clearcut riffs are some some tuneful little axe motifs – like on ‘Mad World’, the track, ‘Fake News’ and ‘New Tomorow’, creating a sense of complexity that sits comfortably in contrast with the band’s precision engineered riffs and stomping percussive thump.
That said, they don’t stray too far outside their own pre-drawn lines, but clearly, it’s roomy inside and they make every moment count. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
