Shakra – Everest (2009)
“Everest” may be the best release of Swiss rockers Shakra’s career, but shortly after its release the band announced vocalist Mark Fox would be leaving the band due to conflicts with Shakra’s business partners. What a shame because Fox’s vocals on “Everest” are his best performance in the six years he has been with Shakra.
“Ashes To Ashes” gets “Everest” started off, this heavy melodic rocker has a great intro with a tight groove from the rhythm section of Dominik Pfister (bass) and Roger Tanner (drums). Lead guitarist Thom Blunier puts on a great solo as well, very hard not to do the ol’ head bang with this song. “Love & Pain” is up next heavier and slower than “Ashes To Ashes” but just as melodic the band as a whole sounds great on this song but Pfister & Tanner may well be on their way to becoming my favorite rhythm section. “Let Me Lie My Life To You” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, a great melodic rocker with some great sing along verses and choruses guitarists Blunier and Thomas Muster absolutely smoke this song. “the Illusion of Reality” is a slow, moody rocker that picks up at the chorus, I just can’t get over how tight the band sounds on this album. “Why?” is power ballad with a nice acoustic intro and some nice piano pieces throughout kind of sounds like a mix of Gotthard/Scorpions. “the Journey” starts out a slow, thumping rocker that kicks in before the first verse then slows down and speeds up throughout at 4 minutes this song would be awesome but at 8 minutes long I am ready to get to the next track. Blunier pulls of a nice solo but does it really need to be 3 minutes long? As soon as “Regressive Evolution” starts so does the foot tapping great song and Pfister’s bass sounds great as well. “Anybody Out There” is another song I would consider a favorite on “Everest” a mid tempo rocker that sounds like it would get over big in a live setting. “Right Between The Eyes” and “Dirty Money” are solid rockers that should go over well live. “Insanity” has stadium written all over it, another favorite of mine. Blunier once again pulls off a great solo. “Hopeless” is the album closer with some nice piano and strings included but I just never understand it when a band closes an album with a ballad.
The remaining members of Shakra are going to continue without Fox, in fact if you think you’re their man send a demo-song or just an e-mail to infos@shakra.ch . Whoever they decide on as the next singer are going to have some big shoes to fill, especially after Fox’s performance on “Everest” . Otherwise you can check out Shakra at http://www.myspace.com/shakrarock or www.shakra.ch.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Ashes To Ashes 
2. Love & Pain
3. Let Me Lie My Life To You
4. The Illusion Of Reality
5. Why
6. The Journey
7. Regressive Evolution
8. Anybody Out There
9. Right Between The Eyes
10. Dirty Money
11. Insanity
12. Hopeless
Shakra is:
Mark Fox – Vocals
Thom Blunier- guitar
Thomas Muster – guitar
Dominik Pfister – bass
Roger Tanner – drums
gutted rgat Mark will no longer be with shakra…His voice is outstanding in my book way more so than the new singer they have …he aint gonna last long in my eyes as is voice just does noy cut it at all…Sorry but he just dose not have what it takes to take Marks place…R.N.R