HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – Pay To Play (2013)

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Swedish melodic rockers HOUSE OF SHAKIRA are releasing their 2nd album with lead singer Andreas Novak entitled “Pay To Play”. According to founder member Mats Hallstensson, this is the band’s best record so far and it certainly does not disappoint.

In its 22-year history House Of Shakira has released six studio albums, all of which have left their mark in the melodic rock community, making the band one of Sweden’s best known musical exports as well as hometown heroes.
On its 12 songs, “Pay To Play” showcase a confident, veteran melodic (hard) rock band with a firm understanding of what’s necessary to satisfy the fans.
Right out of the gate the mid-tempo title track anthem shines with these slow hitting, bluesy guitar harmonies from Mats Hallstensson and Anders Lundstrom as well as a playful melody from Andreas Novak. It is energetic but still classic. The sound of a bottle popping and the background noise of the restaurant set the mood for what this album wants to do.
“All You Want” has more commercial aspirations, a fine old-school keyboard shimmering during the chorus with bright vocal harmonies bringing the song home.

Going right for the hookline early in a happy manner, “When the Cats Away” and “Dog Eat Dog” are cuts that makes you instantly want to sing along. The riffs catches your attention, and then, the songs continues to build to keep your appeal.
On the latter, the background vocals reminds Baton Rouge meets Loverboy circa Lovin’ Every Minute Of It while drummer Martin Larsson delivers some nifty fills during this slower, groove-oriented arrangement.
There is a call to action feeling of each track. Most of the songs are upbeat and fun, and that makes you want to bang your head and tap your foot. “Draw the Line” has very good riffs and such an anthem-like sound with the combination of the members singing the lyrics.
“Talk of the Town” starts out with a higher pitch of voices, and there is an initial guitar line that gets more and more intense as the song plays on. The vocals lose the higher pitch and the attitude of the song sets in.
Some of my favorites include the Thin Lizzy-like guitar runs and soulful vocals throughout “Dopamine Junkie” and the down ‘n dirty number “Two Things” that reverts back to a lot of the roots of ’70s hard rock.

House Of Shakira may not be the flashiest of melodic hard rock acts, but on “Pay To Play” they execute their songwriting with thick riffing, smart melody choices and carry things through with super multi-part vocal harmonies.
This band have always had a certain element of quirkiness in them, and they’ve still got it. Their lyrics aren’t the ‘usual kind of stuff’ and their music has some nice twists and turns.
In the past I’ve missed some anthemic, catchy hooks, but now they’ve delivered in that department too. I also like the neat references to classic rock legends they’ve built into the songs; take a listen and see if you can spot some bits of Queen, Foreigner, Def Leppard and Thin Lizzy among others.
Very Recommended.

01 – Pay to Play
02 – Bending the Law
03 – All You Want
04 – When the Cat’s Away
05 – Dopamine Junkie
06 – Draw the Line
07 – Dog Eat Dog
08 – Give Me More
09 – Tried and True
10 – Talk of the Town
11 – Two Things
12 – Same Old Story

Andreas Novak – Lead Vocals
Mats Hallstensson – Guitars, Vocals
Anders Lundström – Guitars, Vocals
Basse Blyberg – Bass, Vocals
Martin Larsson – Drums

BUY IT !
www.nehrecords.com/SHOP/HousePay.htm
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