Frontiers [Release date: 19.05.23]
Those melodic rock fans who mainline the uncut version of the brand might not have time for artists who add their own distinctive musical seasoning.
But they might just find that this shiny new album from House Of Shakira will satisfy even the most exacting of tastes.
This band neither dilute nor distort the genre, but use it as a solid base to which they add layers of invention, constantly capturing rock’n’roll lightning in a bottle.
This, the band’s fifth album is full of catchy tunes and memorably melodic hooks, from ‘Twisted Attitude’, a helter skelter slice of slick pop immediacy to ‘Toxic Train’s repurposed funk, and a chorus lifted from the Valentine/ Valensia Playbook.
It’s simply a series of musical delights, full of expertly managed arrangements, with most vocal lines shadowed by brittle, tightly packed falsetto harmonies, underlined by crunching guitars.
‘Something In the Water’ launches the album with some eighties’ upscale New Wave Rock, a post Eagles Glenn Frey – a rock song shining with bright pop songcraft.
The prime, hard edged melodic rock of ‘Too Much Love’ and ‘The Message’, both richly textured and almost entirely lacking in sterile studio gloss are bulletins from the future of the genre.
Only ‘No Silver Lining’ dares step away from the chosen path. The lyrics’ downbeat philosophising gives the song an attractive melancholy undertow, which turns out to be the calm before a lengthy, heart stopping hook.
No question, XIT is a perfect, pop meets melodic rock classic, from a band who never stuck to the formula, and thankfully, still don’t. *****
Review by Brian McGowan
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)
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