HOUSE OF SHAKIRA: Radiocarbon (MELODIC HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's been 28 years since House Of Shakira has been around. The Swedish band has only released ten albums over this period but such longevity commands respect. Unfortunately, despite recognized qualities, the offspring of guitarists Mats Hallstensson and Andres Lundstrom can't manage to leave the second division of the AOR / melodic hard rock. With "Radiocarbon", the quintet's ninth studio release which sees Per Schelander replace Bass Blyberg on bass, fans hope that the step will be taken to settle down alongside Treat, Eclipse or H.E.A.T. within the Scandinavian pantheon of the genre.

Produced by Pontus Norgren (Talisman, The Poodles, Hammerfall, etc...), this opus delivers ten tracks and an atmospheric introduction ('Herd Instinct') that offer a perfect balance between a sense of melody and contagious energy. Sometimes light and pop ('One Circumstance') but capable of a power flirting with the heavy ('A Tyrant's Tale'), House Of Shakira knows how to show variety while keeping its coherence. The pair of guitarists provide good riffs and sometimes throw itself into incendiary and dazzling solos (the finale of the Bonjovian 'Like A Fool') while Andreas Novak confirms that he is a quality singer, capable of some screams worthy of Ian Gillan ('Delusion' and his old school hard rock). As for the rhythm pair, they do the job while being able to insinuate a heady groove on some tracks ('Sweet Revenge').

However, there's a snag and it's a big one: the Swedes can't stand out enough from their influences and the winks are sometimes so strong that they border on cloning. There would be nothing wrong with an introduction modelled on the Metallica 'Wherever I May Roam' introduction ('A Tyrant's Tale') or verses based on AC/DC's 'Shoot To Thrill' ('Scavenger Lizard'). Even the very Leppzrdian mid-tempo 'Falling Down' could still get amnesty. But the carbon copy of the aptly named eponymous title ('Radiocarbon') with all the elements of the 'Photograph' of the same Def Leppard deserves the red card on its own, reducing almost to nothing all the qualities of the album.

"Radiocarbon" is a pleasant and sympathetic moment but it is not enough to allow the band to become a reference in an already crowded musical style. - Official website

HOUSE OF SHAKIRA

RADIOCARBON

FRONTIERS RECORDS

MELODIC HARD ROCK