Dave Felix at Rockeyez.com wrote:
I am so, so glad I got this one just under our deadline for our annual year-end
reviews here at ROCKEYEZ because HOUSE OF SHAKIRA’s latest release on
Lion Records entitled “Retoxed” is definitely worthy of a slot in my
top ten!
Originally formed in Stockholm way back in 1991, this five man band composed of
bassist/ keyboardist Per Schelander, drummer Tony Andersson,
dueling guitarists Mats Hallstensson and Anders Lundstrom and
incredible vocalist Andreas Eklund is still very much alive and kicking!
Their debut release “Lint” was released to critical acclaim in 1997.
Now… with five more studio releases under their belts, “Retoxed” is
just another quality release in a long line of great music from these talented
Swedish rockers.
As with most of the band’s releases, “Retoxed” has a bit more of an
updated sound… even a little bit harsher and heavier than their previous
releases but still… this is good stuff! After the short, a cappella intro
entitled “Retox,” HOUSE OF SHAKIRA kick it right into high
gear with the almost anthem-sounding “Small Town.” With its
high-powered rhythm, strong, melodic chorus and some exquisite harmonies, “Small
Town” almost has a bit of that JOURNEY “Arrival” flavor to it.
“No Faith” is a LOT heavier than HOUSE OF SHAKIRA fans may be
use to with its heavy, grinding melody and fast, intricate guitar solo in the
vein of DOKKEN on their “Long Way Home” or “Hell to Pay” releases. Then
“Crazy But No Fool” reverts back to that more melodic, hard rock
sound it seems the band is more accustomed to.
“Life and Death” is another good melodic rocker with a solid chorus
while (dabbling a bit more into that “heavier” side again) “Gabon Viper”
supplies more of those heavy, harsher riffs. By the way… just what does “Gabon
Viper” mean anyway? This leads the way to “High Above,” another
edgier track but a bit more melodic than its predecessor.
Up next is hands down my favorite track on the release… an acoustic driven
arrangement called “Red Alert.” With its strong, melodic chorus,
toe-tapping melody, well-constructed lyrics and tight harmonies, this is just a
perfect song all around. “Bloodline” holds its own as well although
you’ll find it a bit bluesier than the rest of the tracks.
Finally rounding off the release is the catchy “Angel Dancer”
followed by the slower paced “Turkish Nights.” While the title may
sound a bit deceiving, “Turkish Nights” really delivers its message
in a not-so-typical power-ballad fashion and is another one of my favorites off
this very potent release. “Retoxed” is a fine effort by one of Sweden’s
best, HOUSE OF SHAKIRA. While I can’t say it’s as complete or rounded
as “Lint” or “III,” “Retoxed” should find its
way comfortably into any AOR, melodic or hard rock fans collection.
Rating: 4/5
Mitch at
Metal-observer wrote:
My first taste of HOUSE OF SHAKIRA was when I happened to hear the
Swedish group’s note-perfect cover of JOURNEY’s “ Separate Ways (Worlds
Apart)”. My first thought was, “Great Scott, these guys are hella talented.”
For some bizarre reason, I forgot to check out the rest of the band’s
material, but thankfully, Fortune has smiled upon me, and HOUSE OF SHAKIRA’s
latest album, “Retoxed”, has found its way into my hands.
Let’s make one thing clear from the get-go: “Retoxed” is one
stunning album. From the delicate piano intro, “Retox”, all the way
to the seven-minute finale, “Turkish Nights”, this album is Melodic
Rock at its finest. The band manages to strike a fine balance between catchy
JOURNEY-inspired AOR and some edgier VAN HALEN-esque stuff, and it works
marvellously.
It goes without saying that every member of HOUSE OF SHAKIRA has an
insane amount of talent. Drummer Tony Andersson lays down the beat with
metronomic precision, guitarists Mats HHallstensson and Anders
Lundström throw down lick after lick, bassist Per Schelander
delivers some majestic background vocals (which is ironic, considering he once
lied about being able to sing so he could join the band!) and over top of it all
is Andreas Eklund, the man with the golden voice. Seriously, now that
Jeff Scott Soto has left JOURNEY, I think Eklund should capitalize on that
little opportunity. He’s got the perfect voice, and as I mentioned above, the
band’s cover of “ Separate Ways ” was spectacular.
Then again, with songwriting as stellar as this, who needs JOURNEY? Just listen
to how perfectly the soft “Retox” segues into the upbeat and rockin’
“ Small Town ”. Just listen to the soaring vocal harmonies in the
chorus of “Crazy But No Fool”. Just listen to the wondrous
semi-acoustic verses of “Red Alert”. Damn, I’m running out of
adjectives here. Fans of super-catchy, well-produced Rock will love “Retoxed”.
Fans of JOURNEY will absolutely adore it. As stated above, this is Melodic Rock
at its finest, and if you’re in the mood for some catchy, upbeat music, then
this is certainly the album you’re looking for. And Mr. Eklund, I’m
serious about that JOURNEY thing. Let me know how that works out.
Rating: 9/10
Hans at
Digital-steel.com wrote:
Swedish melodic rockers House Of Shakira are back Retoxed and
ready to freshen up the melodic rock scene with their potent trademark blend of
lush vocals and contagious musical hooks. The bands trademark melodies and
vocals lines are here Retoxed stronger than ever with the music created
to support the vocals and carry the lyrics to the listener. Not just content
with working the main vocal melody the band have taken great care to ensure the
background music and vocal melodies are there to support the band trademark
vocals, the band call this the “Abba inspiration”. Well I can tell you that
“Abba” might be an inspiration, but lucky for us House of Shakira
doesn’t sound like Abba. The band has written the songs as a collective unit
as they have done on their debut album Lint. After the short ballad Retox
we are getting Small Town thrown in our AOR faces. The first band I had
to think about when I heard this song is Extreme, especially the album III sides
to every story. Although there is no Nuno Bettencourt in House of Shakira,
the musicians have reached a high level after 10 years. The songs are very
catchy, they have great melodies and choirs and Andreas Eklund has a
voice that reminds sometimes of Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn or Steve Perry (Ex-Journey).
Now we go on with No Faith which does sound a little bit like Fates
Warning at the time of APSOG, especially the beginning of the song. Crazy But
No Fool is again a sing-a-long song even as the following Life And Death.
Of course there is another ballad on this album called Red Alert and
maybe you can put the last song Turkish Nights also in that same window
called ‘easy listening music’. This album swings like a woman’s tit (as we
say in Holland ! ). Good songs, great melodies and a great singer, again from
that country called Sweden. So if you like ‘Journey’, ‘Extreme’ or ‘Tyketto’
check out this new album from House of Shakira.
Rating: 83/100
Torch at
Rockhardplace.com wrote:
It's hard to believe that House Of Shakira has been around for
over a decade now. It seems like yesterday when I discovered them as a
cool new band with a unique sound and an album called "Lint".
Now they've become one of my favorites with an impressive library most
bands would kill for. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the band
is that they've kept the same lineup for all their albums! For anyone
who writes off this band as an 80's influenced Hard Rock is really
missing the point. They don't follow the cliches' and pitfalls of trying
to be trendy. Yes, they have a sound similar to that of Journey and
bands from the 80's Hair band era, but they also have much more
intelligent lyrics and a diverse sound.
Having said that, "Retoxed" kicks off with a
radio-friendly tune "Small Town" that actually has an
Americana feel to it. You soon find out this album has some of their
heaviest guitar work when
"No Faith" kicks in. The fact is that normally you
listen for the huge choruses from the band, this time the guitars
grabbed my attention even more. "Bloodline", "High
Above" and "Life And Death" are all guitar
driven songs, heavier than most of their previous work. They still
maintain their melodic side however with songs like "Red Alert"
and the massive sounding "Turkish Nights".
I still havn't heard another band out their more creative with their
backing vocals, "Bloodline" is a great example of how
your can make a good verse sound great with some simple "bops"
in the background. They pride themselves on their vocal prowess, an area
most modern bands completely disregard. Overall, I can't say this is
their best, or worst album. They're as about as consistent as you get
and each album requires repeated listening. Hell, I used to think their
last album "First Class" was my least favorite until I
pulled it out again a year after I got it, now I've reconsidered my
initial assessment. The bottom line is that House Of Shakira
makes ALBUMS, not just songs. They don't just play songs, they tell
stories, and that's why the band has incredible staying power and a
timeless sound.
Tommy Hash at
Ytsejam.com wrote:
An excellent mainstay in the melodic rock/metal scene, this band has
always been arena ready with infectious melodies, hooks and finite
harmonies that make Retoxed another feat for the hard rock glory that House
of Shakira executes. Highly infused with a Queen influence, the
musical showmanship of Journey, as well as the sonics of modern day
troubadours such as Line of Fire, Extreme, and labelmates Dogpound, the
new album leans towards the harder driving/balls-to-the-wall approach
rather than the layered synthesized approach that we also know and love
so much. Retoxed opens up with the Queen-ish piano intro of “Retox,”
which is a short ballad that almost hints as if the record is going to
be an opera of sorts; it is anything but, for that balladry is shattered
with the wall of the opening guitar harmonies of “Small Town,”
a straight ahead anthemic hard rock/metal tune, which packs a punch –
whereas you have other cuts continuing this hard rock endurance with “Crazy
But No Fool” and the staccato laden “Bloodline;” while
other tracks like the dark “No Faith,” the AOR laden “Angel
Dancer,” and the power ballad “Turkish Nights” show
diversity among the tunesmith abilities. With all of the right elements
on the table; the heaviness, catchiness, solos, & even classy pop
sophistication, House of Shakira have produced another profound
example of a modern day arena rock classic.
Rating: 4/5
Dangerdog.com
wrote:
House Of Shakira is
another band, like Shylock, who has gone three years without a new work.
Time, patience and hard work pays off because 'Retoxed' is a a
better than average melodic hard rock album. Admittedly, I took more
than a few spins to get my head around this album. Not that I didn't
like the first time through; I did. However, the music threw me off at
the beginning. It seemed really different. This possibly because the
first time I listened to it through a pair of ear buds on a portable CD
player, and the second time through a small boom box while I was making
dinner. Both devices did not do this album justice. My recommendation:
listen to this on a good stereo system and crank it up. 'Retoxed'
starts off only a little abnormally with a ballad; it's short and very
good. Then things kick into high gear with 'Small Town,' a solid
rocker. This is followed by the two best cuts on the album, 'No Faith,'
and the powerful 'Crazy But No Fool' which includes a fantastic
chorus. 'Life & Death' is another strong rock number with
some sweet guitar work. You can skip over 'Gabon Viper' (yawn!)
and 'High Above' (step out for a coffee and you still won't miss
anything). Things get rowdy and rock again on 'Red Alert' and 'Bloodline'
which has a curious and captivating intro. 'Angel Dancer' was
difficult to listen to and could have been easily dropped from the
album. The final and longest cut, 'Turkish Nights,' displays HOS
in the breadth and depth of their skills in song craftsmanhip, though at
times the song plods along at a glacial pace. But hold on for the song
finishes in a grand way. 'Retoxed' is a worthy effort from House
Of Shakira. Fans will be quickly impressed. Others, like myself,
will have to let the album grow on them. Listen carefully and there much
to enjoy.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Lordsofmetal.nl
wrote:
For a number of years it has been kind of quiet around the talented Swedish
melodic rock band House Of Shakira. After creating quite an impact in 1997 with
the release of their debut album 'Lint' (which is re-released in 2005 by the way),
both follow-up records 'On The Verge' (from 1998) and 'III' (from 2000) were
nothing more than average copies of 'Lint'. In 2004 the band got signed by Lion
Music and the mighty fine record 'First Class' was released. The high quality
level that was to be found on that album is continued on this 'Retoxed', which
is again a very good release.
The new material of House Of Shakira radiates a certain freshness, which was
nowhere to be found on a number of their previous records. Maybe that it had
something to do with their "renewed" way of song-writing, but the fact
remains that 'Retoxed' is a very enjoyable album to listen to.
The melody lines have a high catchiness factor, are easy to sing along to and
stick in your head after just a few listens, all signals for me that they've
done a good job in the song-writing area.
Best examples of this are 'Small Town', 'No Faith' and closing track
'Turkish Nights'.
The band consists of very capable musicians, of which especially solo guitarist
Mats Hallstensson stands out become of his great soloing on a number of the
tracks. Furthermore the band has a great singer in Andreas Eklund, who really
excels in closing track 'Turkish Nights' (for me absolutely the best song to be
found on the album!). Also the harmony vocals sound very professional, which
only increases the accessibility of the material. I honestly didn't expect
anymore that House Of Shakira would be capable of recording such a strong record.
Recommended!
Rating: 82/100
Jason
Richie at Getreadytorock.com wrote:
House Of Shakira return with their fifth studio album and one that marks ten
years since their classic debut album ‘Lint’ was released. The album title
comes from the band’s renewed energy and the fact that this album, like ‘Lint’
sees the band writing together.
After the brief intro ‘Retox’, ‘Small Town’ rips in with a classic piece
of HOS hard rock – big melodies and guitars. Next up ‘No Faith’ is quite
possibly one of the heaviest tunes they have recorded so far, with the band
really putting the guitars to the fore yet not drowning out their distinctive
melodic vocal harmonies. Next up the song of the album for me, the pop rock ‘Crazy
But No Fool’ which stands up to anything on ‘Lint’ which is no mean feat.
‘High Above’ and ‘Red Alert’ both see the band produce classy AOR/melodic
rock tunes with again the band’s attention to vocal melodies and guitars
shining through the music. ‘Bloodline’ is another good song and sounding not
unlike Queen in places!
This is prime time arena rock and one you just want to hear performed live. The
only real slow burner on here is ‘Turkish Nights’ which hints at Journey and
you could easily imagine Steve Perry singing this one. Vocalist Andreas Eklund
again puts in some wonderful vocal performances throughout the album. HOS have
done it again, another classy melodic rock album that will please long term fans
as well as hopefully pulling in some new ones, especially as they have pushed
the guitar sound up the mix to produce some heavier songs.
They never disappoint and this is their best release since ‘Lint’.
Rating 4,5/5
Rockreport.be
wrote:
Where is the time that artists and bands released at least one album per
year? Today more and more acts take their time to write and record a new
album and personally I think it’s better this way. It took the guys of
House Of Shakira more than three years to come up with a follow-up of
“First Class” (Lion Music, 2004), but as far as I’m concerned, it
was worth the long wait.
Knowing that their debut album “Lint” (blueStone Music, 1997) is
generally regarded as their ‘classic’ album, the guys no longer
wanted to write songs individually (like they had done for their
previous two albums), but as a collective unit like they had done in
their early days.
The result is an album that – according to the band – almost wrote
itself. And indeed … the quality of the eleven songs on offer comes
very close to that of the “Lint” songs. The band’s trademark
melodies and vocal lines are left as they were, but everything is
brought to the listener in a fresh and positive way. Guitarist Anders
Lundström states: “It seems like for every record we twist our idea
of making music a notch. Not much, but still there is a difference
through all our releases. We never got trapped doing a record that
followed the trend of the day and/or the return to the original sound of
the band. We’ve just progressed and followed what happened in our
lives.
This is a pretty happy record, that reflects the period of the band and
the members’ lives.” Not many albums start with a ballad, but that’s
exactly what HOS dared to do with the song “Retox”. And what a
contrast with the up-tempo follow-up “Small Town”! Among the songs
that follow these initial two are highlights such as “Crazy But No
Fool” (with that typical HOS chorus), “Red Alert”,
“Bloodline”
(incl. some sound effects) and – last but not last - “Turkish Nights”,
that closes down the album with a real belter. Provided with an
attractive cover and a crystal clear production, this is probably the
best HOS album since their classic debut.
(CL)
Rating: 5/6
Virtuosityone.com
wrote:
House Of Shakira are one of the leading exponents of the modern melodic
rock sound. Hailing from Sweden and forming in the early 1990’s the
band first came to the public eye (and widespread critical acclaim) with
their classic debut “Lint” in 1997. Since then the band have
released a further 3 albums with this, their fifth, “Retoxed”
marking a new re-energised sound, perhaps in no small part aided by the
band decided to write together as they did for “Lint”.
The new energy is certainly here in spades and pretty intoxicating.
After the brief mellow opener “Retox” the guitars get pumped
up for “Small Town” which is a glorious slice of melodic
rock. The trademark lush vocal harmonies are here in full force and the
overall sound is very refreshing and powerful. The band then get heavier
for “No Faith” which is built around a relatively simple yet
captivating riff and the vocals of Andreas Eklund soar with finesse. “Crazy
But No Fool” sees the album head into more melodic waters for this
quite pop sounding track where the guitar work of Anders Lundstrom and
Mats Hallstensson intertwine nicely. The chorus is lavishly harmonised
in the vocals department and sounds better for it. “Life &
Death” begins with a chugging riff before settling down into a
superb mid tempo groove which fans of Thunder would welcome with open
arms. Vocally the track is another winner with Eklund showing sheer
class in the way he uses his voice, this guy has one of the most
distinctive voices in the genre and knows how to work it to get maximum
effect, the pre-chorus is a sheer delight.
“Gabon Viper” sees the band getting heavier once again and
the whole effect is once again one to behold, the chorus here is one of
the strongest on the albums and one that will be lodged in your head for
weeks. “High Above” is back to a similar sound the band
showed on their last album “First Class” mixed with a little of the
driving rhythm as heard on the bands classic “Morning Over Morocco”
(from Lint), the chorus is once again superb and wouldn’t sound out of
place on Def Leppard’s “Pyromania” classic, also be sure to listen
out for drummer Tony Andersson cymbal work during the chorus which is
another nice touch. “Red Alert” sees some acoustic guitar
touches yet remains relatively upbeat, with the chorus being an AOR
treat. “Bloodline” begins with someone making their way to
the concert hall and which is quite apt as the band are rocking in a
fashion reminiscent of Queen to these ears for the verse before slipping
into a cool chorus before a big time stadium sing-along chorus is the
icing on the cake. “Angel Dancer” sees the band deliver
another strong track which has a very good riff to power it along, here
bassist Per Schelander (also a member of Royal Hunt) work carries the
tune along nicely. Album closer “Turkish Nights” is another
fine song to close the album, slower in tempo than most the material on
offer the track has a vibe that is quite unique and this helps set House
Of Shakira apart from the rest of the pack, the chorus is again full of
melodic charm and is something you could easily see Steve Perry belting
out.
House Of Shakira have never delivered a duff album, yet for “Retoxed”
the band felt they needed to inject something to keep the quality high.
The decision to write as a collective unit again has paid dividends and
the overall album is superb. No doubt comparisons will be made to “Lint”
but to do so is selling this album short as it has its own personality
and should do the trick nicely in regards to consolidating their
reputation as one the genre’s best and hopefully pick up some new fans
along the way. Fans of melodic rock will find this a gem.
Rating - 94%
Dave Palmer
at Heavymetalresource.com wrote:
House of Shakira are once again back with their latest melodic
platter 'Retoxed'. I kind of missed the buzz that this band
created early on, but definitely caught on later to why there was a buzz
in the first place. This band puts their music together with infectious
melodies, great harmony vocals that are also big in nature, and great
hooks. Can't forget the hooks.
The latest album contains 11 tracks of pretty consistent AOR and hard
rock type stuff. As much as I have always loved very heavy music, I have
also found this type of music equally important due to my taste for
balance. The band capture your attention by keeping things fairly
consistent, but also adding in subtle things such as a great guitar hook
that may be heavier than the rest of the album or maybe even a dreamy
memorable melody or tone. It's nice to have upbeat music as well with
all of the negativity you get in today's market. You can only take so
much of that before you want to have fun again, and that's what this
band is all about.
There are similarities in their music to what made the 80's so great for
this style of rock.
The band is still churning it out in that style which is part of their
appeal. What I think stands out the most with this album is the vocals.
Not only the main vocals, but the bands harmonic vocals. In some ways
it's similar to something you would hear in classic Styx or bands of
that caliber. I love the way the album opens up.
The band offer up a short, very melodic vocal driven track that drops
right into the second song 'Small Town'. This second track could
have fit into and hard rock album of the late 80's. 'No Faith'
and 'Gabon Viper' showcase a bit of an edge in the guitar sound.
To me, 'High Above' is one of the most catchiest tunes on the
album. 'Red Alert' would make a great single due to it's
accessibility. 'Bloodline' is probably my favorite track on the
album. It combines some of the best vocal work with a nice hard driving
guitar sound. The band sound like they had a good time writing and
recording this record. You hear about artists that write albums that
reflect where they were at in their life through the sound of the album.
If for some reason that was the case here, it would be safe to say this
band was in a good place. This is the type of album that is missing in
the domestic scene for the most part. Once in a while you will get a
Journey album or something along those lines. These types of albums used
to be commonplace. Sure would be nice to get back to that era again.
Nicely done once again.
Overall
Another solid upbeat effort from these Swedish melodic rockers. 'Retoxed'
is fairly consistent through the listen and is based in a melodic hard
rock or AOR sound. This album to me is pretty complete meaning no need
to hit fast forward to skip anything. It's good to hear an album come
along that represents having fun. This is one of those. The album title
is fitting. I am Retoxed on great melodic hard rock once again!
Dave Cockett
wrote:
Something of an enigma, Swedish sextet House Of Shakira are that
most rarefied of musical beasts … an AOR / melodic rock act who refuse
to do anything other than play by their own rules. It's been more than
ten years since their Journeyesque debut 'Lint' (still acclaimed
by many as their finest hour) first hit the streets, a decade which has
seen flurries of activity from the House Of Shakira camp
punctuated by long periods of silence. To date, they've released four
studio albums, each perceptibly different from the last, yet all
retaining the underlying groove which separates the band from most of
their contemporaries. Personally speaking, I thought their last effort
(2004's 'First Class') was easily their strongest and most
cohesive effort since the aforementioned 'Lint', and that new
found source of inspiration seems to have spilled over into new opus 'Retoxed'.
Brimming with confidence and a readily apparent joie de vivre, 'Retoxed'
once again retains the original essence of House of Shakira -
strong melodies, good harmonies, passionate delivery, etc. - yet at the
same time is arguably their most diverse and far reaching set thus far.
From the semi acoustic, Journeyesque AOR of 'Red Alert', to the
brooding, sophisticated hard rock of 'High Above', or the
thrusting party rock of 'Small Town', there's something here to
satisfy every taste. As you'd expect, there's a sprinkling of Arabian
influences (always a House Of Shakira favourite), a dash of power
pop attitude, and plenty of self belief, all combining to make their
most upbeat and positive sounding release to date. The diverse mix of
styles means it will probably take a few spins to really get to know,
but that little extra effort is well worth the ultimate rewards it
brings. Nice one guys!
Hardrockhaven.net
wrote:
It was in the mid 1980s that guitarist Mats Hallstensson,
vocalist Anders Lundstrom and original drummer Henrik Andreasson
formed the melodic rock band The Avenue. Even after a relentless touring
schedule and the release of a demo, the band failed to generate label
interest, and the decision was made to move from their northern Sweden
roots to the capital city, Stockholm. In 1989, the name was changed to
The Station, a few band members came and went, and after the advise of a
record exec the name was dropped and a contest was held by a local radio
station for a fan to name the band. And thus the name House of
Shakira was born, named after what turned out to be a bordello. In
1997, the band released their debut CD, Lint, that introduced the
world to their towering vocals, hook laden guitar riffs and verses that
flowed into sweeping choruses.
Subsequent releases would include 1998’s On The Verge, 2000’s
Three and 2004’s First Class. Part Journey, part The
Storm, part Harem Scarem, part Hardline and all 100% pure melodic rock,
House of Shakira’s fifth studio release, Retoxed, takes
the listener back to the age of bigger than life tracks with arena
filling rock anthems, ballads and hard rockers. Vocalist Andreas
Eklund ties each track together with what is probably one of the
strongest voices in the melodic rock genre. Opening with the 1:12 intro,
“Retox,” which features his strong voice, clear and
passionate, with the standout of this ballad being a fine piano
accompaniment. The chopping piano chords might have been better replaced
with soft, soothing keyboard arpeggios and to tie in the empty slots, an
acoustic guitar. But nevertheless a fine way to allow “Retox”
that runs full steam into the monster sounding,
“Small Town,” with a buildup of drums and guitars on top of
more guitars.
At 20 seconds into this melodic rocker, a strike of the hi-hat can be
heard and the tempo changes from melodic to an all out rocker. This is
signature House of Shakira with Eklund’s voice taking
this track to a place that will be familiar to devotees of this group.
It is during the chorus that characteristic harmonic voices are heard
with a killer guitar solo that is reminiscent of the great Neal Schon or
Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis. Track 3, “No Faith,” is the CD’s
highlight that opens with nasty, crunching guitar chords. Slowing down
somewhat is the next track, “Crazy But No Fool,” that will
immediately take the listener back to the Journey of the 1980s. This is
a feel good number that is well played and indeed infectious.
The harmonic vocals to track 5, “Life and Death,” are
inspiring, and well sung. “Gabon Viper,” track 6 and track 7,
“High Above,” are heavier in its delivery with a more modern
hard rock attitude. But again, giving it its House of Shakira mark
are the vocals that come throughout both these heavy-handed hitters. A
delight was the next track, “Red Alert,” with its simple
delivery, keeping a steady mid tempo feel throughout. The drums were
excellent, the acoustic guitar fitting, and during the chorus came some
of the tightest harmonies that can be heard thus far.
The revving of a car engine is heard during the intro to, “Bloodline,”
that then faded into a hard rocker. Some changes of tempo were heard
during diverse moments with varying degrees of success. The grunge of
Soundgarden or Pearl Jam can be felt with “Angel Dancer,”
that gave bassist
Per Schelander a chance to demonstrate his talent. However this
track was almost bothersome with its many cadence changes and the vocals
that at times didn’t fit the flow.
The heavy ballad, “Turkish Nights,” with its many layers of
vocals and music closed out Retoxed. What makes this an
interesting track is just when one gets used to one key and feeling, the
band manages to pull a 180 and change the vibe completely around.
Certainly what can be said, is Retoxed changes tempos, feelings and
attitudes frequently throughout its almost 50 minute playing time.
All in all, the sound that has captured the hearts of House of
Shakira fans around the world is
there in droves.
Retoxed delivers just what these fans would expect from this
great band.
Rating: 8/10
Live4metal.com
wrote:
It’s been ten years for these Swedish hard rockers since they started
and they are now dishing out album number 5. Once again, this is a band
that I have always been aware of, but never really had the opportunity
to soak in their music. What better time than now to try and digest it…if
I can.
“Small Town” gets off to a happy and energetic start with
simple yet effective drumming. The guitar work is upbeat and easy to
swallow and has some minor shred action during the solo.
Andreas’s voice is just right for this type of pop/hard rock music as
his voice is solid and strong and never hit’s the wimpy territory. The
best part about this is the harmony vocals that kick in during the
chorus as they add extra oomph to the song. Love it. The first cut may
have been an upbeat mid tempo track, but “No Faith” turns
things up just a couple of notches as you will get a touch of double
bass drumming and the six sting action is a little bit leaner and meaner,
but retaining the melodies at all times. What’s shocking for this
brand of AOR/hard rock is that there isn’t any ballads on here.
Usually, there’s at least one or two. There isn’t anything that you
haven’t heard before on here. It’s pretty basic and right to the
point as most of the tracks on here are short. If you are a fan of the
lighter side of rock/metal and are into your Gotthard’s or anything
that is on a label like Frontier’s then you should feel at home. This
is good light hearted music when you don’t want something hard and
heavy at the moment.
Metal-temple.com
wrote:
When you hear the name HOUSE OF SHAKIRA immediately your mind
goes to the sweet-ass pop singer from Colombia. HOUSE OF SHAKIRA
is a hard rock group from Sweden that rocks around the world for 15
years but their first attempt came at 1997 with "Lint".
Swedish groups and artists are well known for their tensions to make
every music so melodic and HOUSE OF SHAKIRA are no exception to
that. Their fifth album is out and it's called "Retoxed".
The album’s self-titled opener is a piano-vocal song like a short
introduction before "Small Town" kicks in with classic
hard rock chords and up-beat theme. It is the kind of music that makes
you imagine of the videoclip like you could be in it. Wonderful work in
the backing vocals and the basic melodies. Andreas Eklund has the
clean vocal mood that this band needs; along with the dual guitar sound
of Mats Hallstensson and Anders Lundstrom create the
perfect harmonies that makes the listener’s ears happy. "No
Faith" has a heavy riff kind of Nu Metal intro, there are these
short rests and edgy start that the rhythm section of Per Shelander
and Tony Anderson can make it sound even more heavy. Don’t
think that this is changing anything; the chorus returns to the familiar
way of Swedish hard rock. Melodic to the bone so that it will stick in
your head. Things are getting a little softer but the up-beat rhythm
remains with "Crazy But No Fool". It is a song that
brings SOUL ASYLUM to mind. "Gabon Viper" has the riff
from BLACK SABBATH’s "Sweet Leaf" in the beginning, I’m
not going to comment on that.
The rest of the album flows nicely with hard rock melodic songs like "High
Above", "Red Alert" (with the acoustic guitar
parts but still up-beat songs), "Bloodline" and "Angel
Dancer".
Until the final song "Turkish Nights", that is the
slowest of "Retoxed", but it is not a ballad. With
lyrics about a strong love that reaches in the depths of Asia. Touching
melody in a strange major scale and clean electric guitar parts ,that
sounds like sitar or something like it, that creates the feeling of
departure and hope at the same time. This is the way that HOUSE OF
SHAKIRA chose to close "Retoxed". It looks like a
tradition for Swedish hard rock and metal bands to create music with
quality for the ones that are searching for it. HOUSE OF SHAKIRA
definitely is the band that continues this tradition with "Retoxed".
Hard rock riffs, sweet melodies and lyrics about love in the four
corners of the world; that is what "Retoxed" is about.
The choice is yours.
Rating:3,5/5
Powermetal.dk
wrote:
House of Shakira has been a part of the Swedish hard rock scene
for the past 15 years, and 'Retoxed' is their fifth studio album
in their career, one which started with the impressive debut album 'Lint'
back in 1997. House of Shakira has always been great
representatives of traditional Swedish hard rock with classic hard rock
chords, melodic and sticky choruses, great hook-lines and catchy
melodies, and 'Retoxed' falls nicely in line with their earlier
albums. The songs are up-beat, melodic rock songs with a flair for great
harmonies, and the guitar work by the Mats Hallstensson and Anders
Lundström is excellent - there's some real first class leads on
this album as well as some great harmonies. In case anyone had doubts
about the class of vocalist Andreas Eklund then I suggest you
throw this disc in your CD-player, turn up the volume and press play;
the album opens with a marvellous piano-vocal intro where Andreas
Eklund proves what he is capable of. First class Swedish hard rock
played with style and conviction - party rock all the way baby! A
mandatory purchase for hard rock fans around the globe...
Rating 80/100
Themayfairmallzine
wrote:
I first saw House of Shakira at the Gods 2001 and they blew me
away, I’ve been a fan ever since and their albums have shown a
consistent quality throughout. This is their 5th album and with previous
efforts, have seen them produce high quality melodic rock with a
contemporary edge. Lush vocals, big riffs and catchy hooks along with
trademark melodies and vocal phrasing. Once again the music is
complimented with a solid production and vibrant mix. Where most bands
would kick off a CD with a big opener HoS opt for the quiet piano
and vocal of title track 'Retoxed', short, sweet and damned
wonderful. With that it’s straight into 'Small Town' with a big
Queen type opening and we’re off and rocking. This is an immediate and
foot-stomping song with those big layered vocals. 'No Faith' is
up next and an uncomprimising heavy, crunching, tune and shows the band
are, once again, not prepared to stagnate, a huge contemporary sounding
riff pummelling from the speakers. 'Crazy But No Fool' is more
like HoS of old, with a big, catchy chorus. Then we’re into 'Life
and Death', another song with a big, catchy chorus with some great
harmonies. 'Gabon Viper' has a heavy guitar opening and the
chorus is half decent but that’s about it unfortunately. Another big
guitar opening ushers in 'High Above', some great riffing, but
the chorus lets the song down. 'Red Alert' is up next, and the
verses are a bit too quirky even for HOS, but the chorus and
harmonies are a stand out of the album. On to 'Bloodline', which
starts with the sound of a motorcycle engine and someone running down a
hallway and the sound of a guitar in the distance. Then the band launch
it a sub-Led Zepplin riff. 'Angel Dancer' follows on and this is
another quirky tune that just doesn’t sit very well at all. The album
closes out with another favourite, 'Turkish Nights', a dark,
slow-burning rock ballad, plenty of layered harmonies and choruses, big
and bold. This album has some strong songs, but is unable to match
previous effort 'First Class'. The band have a unique, quirky
melodic style and this is not a bad album, just not up to past efforts.
There are at least 5 tracks on here that will work great live and I hope
the band give us the chance to hear them.
Hardrockhouse.com
wrote:
It’s been some three years since the release of House Of Shakira's
last studio album but the intervening years have been far from quiet as
the band has re-released their stunning debut Lint and as well as
a Live DVD filmed at the very first Firefest gig in Bradford. For those
of you that have been waiting patiently however for new material from
the band that wait is now over with Retoxed, the fifth album from
HOS. The listener is lulled into a false sense of security with
the simple piano ballad, Retox, that opens the album before the
classy Small Town gets things underway properly. It's a great
typical HOS track with huge vocals and excellent guitar work. No
Faith on the other hand sees the band taking a more modern approach
and is a heavier, more aggressive take from the band.
Crazy But No Fool changes direction again, very much in the John
Cougar Mellencamp mold, and is very much a highlight of the album. If
there is one thing consistent about Retoxed, it is the changes in
direction between songs, Life And Death is very much akin to
songs the band have recorded earlier in their career but Gabon Viper
again sees the band taking a heavier, more modern approach, albeit with
the group vocals they are well known for intact.
There's even a touch of funk thanks to High Above that sees the
band returning to their roots once again and the song is propelled along,
reminiscent of the sound on Lint. Conversely Red Alert,
another highlight, with it's acoustic intro has a slightly country rock
feel, like the Eagles perhaps but this is then followed by the heaviest
track on the CD, Bloodline. Indeed it is perhaps the heaviest
track the band have ever written and recorded and is more straight
forward than much that can be found elsewhere on Retoxed,
although as you would expect the HOS vocal interplay is still in
evidence. Rounding out the album are Angel Dancer and Turkish
Nights. The former is a song that doesn't completely succeed,
sometimes I like it, at other times it grates, but at least Turkish
Nights, a cool, dark ballad, closes the album on a high.
Retoxed, as a whole, sees the House Of Shakira developing
their sound and direction and, to some degree, this development may help
then gather more fans by making the music more direct and accessible,
the slightly heavier direction may also go down will well with a younger
generation of rockers if sufficient airplay is forthcoming. However on
the downside long time fans of the band may feel slightly disappointed
with the change in direction, indeed the loss of the bands African
influenced sounds are detrimental overall. There is an argument that
goes "if it ain't broke then don't fix it" and perhaps HOS
are slightly at fault fro trying to change too much too quickly. Maybe
further down the line for album number six they can blend more
affectively the new directions with the older sound that made the band
successful in the first place.
Rating 7/10
Strutter
Magazine wrote:
Swedish melodic rockers HOUSE OF SHAKIRA make a return with their
5th CD release. Musically they have always been making Melodic Hardrock
and also their new CD 'Retox' follows that style. Although it is
not THE melodic hardrockalbum of the year, it still is a high quality
original Melodic Hardrockalbum that will please the fans of no-nonsense
uptempo 80s American inspired good time rock and roll with strong
melodic choruses in the style of DOKKEN, HEAVEN'S EDGE, VYPER, ICON and
such. Especially the beginning with uptempo rockers like "Small
Town", "No Faith", "Crazy But No Fool"
and "Life And Death" and closing ballad “Turkish
Nights” are showing the high level of HOUSE OF SHAKIRA's
music. The CD has a full-blown production and therefore fans of
mentioned bands should get it asap...
Rating: 8,4/10
Metal
Express Radio wrote:
What do you get when you mix Def Leppard and Journey? House of
Shakira! The Swedish melodic band is back with strong bass lines and
big choruses. Retoxed has everything a melodic Metal fan needs
and wants: great vocals, strong riffs, smart songs. Appropriately enough,
the album’s title track opens the album. For an opener, “Retoxed”
is quiet and relatively slow. Andreas Eklund’s voice is the
signature here. A brilliant singer he fights his Swedish accent,
especially on the album’s quieter moments. This control means the real
rockers come through loud and clear. “No Faith” fits nicely
in the “rocker” category. The pace is fast and harmonies heavy.
Self-produced by the band, the talented Swedes really boosted the bass
and backing vocals, creating an interesting rhythm section. The guitars
actually take center stage on portions of “No Faith,” with
several bits of Eklund’s vocals muted for a sort of post-modern
listening extravaganza. Retoxed is House of Shakira’s
fifth album; a sign of success is growth. While the entire disc shows
maturity, songs like “Red Alert” really confirm the band’s
songwriting ability. Both in music and words, this track utilizes simple
melodies to create a great listening experience. The production mix of
high and low vocals adds an interesting texture to a song that can
actually fit within many genres. Reminiscent of Tesla and Danger Danger,
“Red Alert” also sounds surprisingly modern. House of
Shakira will perform “Red Alert” live for many years to
come. The album closes with “Turkish Nights,” which features
interesting timing and staccato rhythms before the signature soaring
vocals of Eklund. Here, more than any other spot on Retoxed
the backing vocals work absolutely in tandem with the musical
arrangement. While the backing vocals are superb on the entire release,
they shine on “Turkish Nights.” The song is rich with complex
textures and actually has the power to transport the listener to another
place and time.
Rating: 7,5/10
Melodicrock.com
wrote:
Swedish rockers House Of Shakira are one of my all-time favourite
Scandinavian bands. This is their 5th studio album in the 10 years since
their incredible debut. When considering their output, one must give
credit to a band that has been very consistent in delivering high
quality melodic rock with that quirky edge the guys are famous for. The
debut is obviously an all-time classic and the album III was also
filled with memorable moments. I wasn't so mesmerized by the band's
second release – the On The Verge record, but the band's last
album First Class was exactly that, so there was a great deal of
anticipation for this release. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I
find myself struggling with this record, working harder than I would
otherwise expect in order to get into the songs. The band has updated
their sound just a little again, tweaking as they do with each record. Retoxed
is a heavier and somewhat more direct record than some of the band's
earlier more pompous efforts, and perhaps the old doesn't mix with the
new as well as it should. Something doesn't quite gel here and it isn't
one thing I can single out easily. In part it is the updated style and
in part it comes down to the songs themselves. While I wouldn't like to
fault the quality of the production on the album – as the record
sounds as sharp and snappy as ever – there is something missing there
also. The rawer and harder sound is fine, but at times a few songs feel
as if they are half a step behind the tempo they should be. Some of the
pizzazz – or the aura if you like – the magic that drives this band
is missing. To my ears at least. After a brief acapella intro, the band
gets off to a flyer with the fairly traditional HOS pomp anthem
that is Small Town. The classic elements of layered choruses and
big vocals will remind fans of the best parts of the debut and their
career since. Third song in No Faith signals a left turn and for
it to come so early in the album points to a change of thinking from the
guys. The heavier, crunchier and dare I say more contemporary number has
a big sound and big riff, but leaves me cold come chorus time. Crazy
But No Fool is far more familiar fare for the band, but again, there
just seems as if there is something missing. I love the chorus though…it
just could have been even bigger. Life And Death has a familiar
chorus vibe and you have to love those harmonies, but the verse leaves
me cold. Same goes for Gabon Viper and even worse with High
Above, which I think plods along and delivers a totally forgettable
chorus. The acoustic flavoured Red Alert is much better. The
chorus is certainly a high point for the album and this song seems to
retain the best elements of the band I love. Bloodline has
another layered chorus full of harmonies but the pace is again fairly
laid back and I don't overly like the Zeppelin inspired verse. I don't
like the verse within Angel Dancer either. The slightly
alternative vibe doesn't work for me and the chorus is….well,
bizarrely annoying and infectiously catchy at the same time. The slower
and darker Turkish Nights closes out the album. A nice rock
ballad with plenty of layers, with the overall tempo matching that of
the rest of the album.
The Bottom Line
Reading back through this review, I have been pretty tough on the guys.
I hate this part of the job, as I love the band and they are all big
supporters of this site and great people too. And I still rate this band
as one of the best bands never to become million sellers. I adore 3 of
the band's 5 studio albums…I will have to stick to that, as on this
occasion I must admit to being disappointed, despite the intelligent use
of varied instrumentation and the band's always unique style. This scene
needs bands like House Of Shakira – we need diversity within
the ranks, but I don't think the right decisions have been made this
time around and I don't think the song quality is as strong as on past
efforts.
Rating 82% (songs 80%, sound 90%)
Baz Anderson
at Metalstorm.ee wrote:
House Of Shakira have been around for quite a number of years,
and now ten years on from the band's debut these Swedish melodic hard
rockers return with their latest offering "Retoxed".
House Of Shakira are one of a seemingly booming collection of
bands at the moment that are intent on keeping the old style of rock 'n'
roll that became so popular around the time of the 80's, this is not new
territory for these rockers though as after forming in 1991 this is
studio album number five.
"Retoxed" is a modern album with all the charms of the
classic rock bands, multiple layers of vocals singing super catchy
melodies in every chorus of the album. The band call these, their
trademark vocals their "Abba inspiration" with lead vocalist Andreas
Eklund constantly being vocally backed up by lead guitarist Mats
and bassist Per to produce a grand, sonic wall of singing.
Infectious guitar riffs always present make "Retoxed"
almost a hard rocking hybrid son of Abba and Kiss. "Crazy But No
Fool" and "Life And Death" back to back is the
main highlight of the just under fifty minute long album, real rock
music with a strong touch of melody, boasting some of the best music of
this genre. House Of Shakira ooze confidence and ability without
sounding overly cocky or arrogant. Production is crystal clear, enticing
cover art, a good overall performance; "Retoxed" is an
all round great album. Nothing highly original or groundbreaking though,
no overall outstanding highlight and there may be a couple of songs on
the album that slip inconspicuously under radar, but if you know you
have a soft spot in your heart for this melodic, highly singing oriented
kind of hard rock then these minor drawbacks will have little or no
affect on your overall enjoyment of the album. This is melodic hard rock
how it should be. A good beat follows through the whole album, that
finishes with the more sombre "Turkish Nights" closing
the album, still keeping an element of swagger about it the song is
almost ballad-ish and suitable for a fresh, modern, contagious album
that delivers what it sets out to deliver in the true spirit of rock.
This is not hard, heavy metal, it is mature, elegant and dashing, classy
rock 'n' roll that aims to get its infectious charms into your head, and
for the most part succeeds marvellously.
Rating 7.8
Paulo
André at Progscape.com wrote:
When I signed up to write record reviews here at Progscape, I wish had
stated clearly that I wouldn't write a single word about pop stars, not
even if they're Colombian and looks gorgeous on the page. So, when I got
this record about the house of Shakira, I clenched my fists in a fit of
rage. There's just no way in hell I will write about pop music like
this. I don't care about Shakira, let alone what goes on in her house.
Then I woke up and noticed the stack of CDs in my desk which I had to
work my way through. "Retoxed" is the fifth installment from
Swedish melodic rockers "House of Shakira" and as I
picked it up, I had this weird sense of deja vu. I guess I simply
shouldn't have smoked any of that stuff.
Anyway, are you still there? Because if you are and if you're into
melodic hard rock, let me just say you're in for a treat. "Retoxed"
surprisingly starts with a slow piano and voice intro of the same name
but soon shifts into high gear and just doesn't let go. Now, melodic
rock or AOR or whatever you wanna call it just seems to be one of those
very specific genres. Fans obviously love it but outside listeners
easily fall into the trap of classifying every AOR band as being very
much alike any other in the genre. I know I'm guilty of that sin
sometimes. So, a word of caution is in order. If you're not into this
kind of stuff, steer well away from "Retoxed", as it
has the potential to fry your nerves. Otherwise, steer well into it,
because House of Shakira's latest album is sheer melodic goodness.
That having been said, there's not much more for me to go on about. The
band sounds tight like they should with five albums under their belt and
vocalist Andreas Eklund certainly is a perfect fit for this
band's sound - which is crisp and clear, by the way. This is a very well
rounded album, sometimes a little heavy for what's common in the genre
yet there's no shortage of vocal harmonies that will hopefully leave you
longing for the 80s. Also worth mentioning, the twin guitars of Hallstensson
and Lundstrom are like two old buddies in that they cooperate so
well, while the rhythm section is strong enough for things to work, like
it should.
So, in a nutshell, fans of melodic rock with an inclination for metal
will love this "Retoxed" stuff and if you happen to be
a fan of Journey as well, then run to get this one. You're gonna love
it. But if "great melodic vocal harmonies" translates into
"cheesy choruses" for you, avoid at all costs
Ola
Gränshagen at Melodic.net wrote:
Even though Lion Music is not providing me with promos any longer, I got
this "Retoxed" CD from Anders Lundström of HOUSE
OF SHAKIRA since I've been a longtime fan of this skilled Swedish
band. I have followed the career of this Stockholm act since the early
90's, all the way from their high class demos when they were called THE
STATION. The new "Retoxed" CD is the fifth studio
album with HOUSE OF SHAKIRA, and I dare say it is their best
album so far. What was promising and good all the way from the start has
now come into blossom.
Stylewise HOUSE OF SHAKIRA has turned heavier over the years,
meaning less keyboards today in favour of more guitars and a slightly
heavier sound. Take "Bloodline" as an example; where
the band's lovely african spice is added to the sound and melodies. This
should not scare the AOR:sters away though.
JOURNEY influences can still be heard here and there - just listen to
the chorus in "Crazy but no fool" and you're stuck. All
in all, the nice mix of melodic hard rock, the AOR spices and the slight
but significant African touch makes this band pretty unique. And I love
it. If you haven't discovered HOUSE OF SHAKIRA yet, you should do
it right away. A strong singer they have too, in Andreas Eklund.
Rating 4/5
By
Matt Coe at Imhotep.no
It’s exciting to notice versatility in terms of a label’s roster of
acts- especially if the usual thread that binds the bands together is
something related to image or a specific musical aspect. Sweden’s House
Of Shakira signed on with Lion Music in 2004, releasing their fourth
album "First Class" while spending a couple of years
touring, recording a live DVD in the UK and finally unleashing their
latest effort on the world stage. What makes this quintet unique you say?
When the main selling point of Lion Music releases tends to be the
guitar virtuoso hero, House Of Shakira instead focus on
delivering good old fashioned melodic hard rock, molding their sound on
three to four part vocal harmonies and street sensible songwriting with
hooks that careen the cranium forever. "Retoxed"
approaches the finesse of Pretty Maids along with the smooth fun aspect
of American acts like Bon Jovi or even Warrant through tracks like
"Gabon Viper" and "Small Town". The
collective songwriting keeps the album flowing at an appropriate pace,
just the right balance of mid-tempo, fast paced and ballad arrangements
in the 11 song product. Vocalist Andreas Eklund throws down his
words with bright enthusiasm, carrying the charisma of a 70’s front
man like Robert Plant or David Coverdale while retaining more of an 80’s
AOR-like charm in "Bloodline" or closing ballad "Turkish
Nights". The band certainly know how to get people out of their
seats when they push the tempos, as the aforementioned "Small
Town" gave me the feeling I used to experience when listening
to "First Night" from Survivor. Being my first experience with
House Of Shakira, "Retoxed" isn’t going to
shatter the rock world with something out of the ordinary. Yet if you
miss the days of LA hard rock with more of the Dokken/ ABBA vocal
interplay this is a safe bet for a sound you’ll enjoy.
Rating 4/6
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