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Hailing from Wellington, New Zealand (which just so happens to be where I'm from, hehe), Shakhan is somewhat of an anomaly in the New Zealand metal scene (which is in itself rather scarce). Employing wildly melodic guitars heavily influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden, thrashier elements of something like old-school Metallica, and unusually, hardcore-punk vocals, Shakhan has made quite an impact on their home city with this excellent 5-track EP. The EP gets going with a BANG with the song "Moth", a heavy thrash-fest with some melodious guitar playing that gets your head banging from the start. The next song, "Sandstorm", is a true standout, with amazing riffage, excellent drumming and a really catchy groove running throughout. These guys have got exceptional guitar skills, and use them melodically as opposed to wanking off scales. "In the Zone" is maybe the punkiest songs, often sounding more like hardcore punk than melodic metal. Anyways the final two songs follow the same vein as the previous ones. Fast tempos, melodic guitars and punk vocals. For all the skill and energy on display here, there are a few flaws. Firstly, the punk vocals really are an acquired taste and make this an odd amalgamation of melodic metal and hardcore punk that doesn't quite sit properly. Secondly, outside of an unusual acoustic riff on the song "The Summoning", there isn't a great sense of variety here, despite the often infectious riffage. It starts to feel slightly repetitive. Besides these nitpicks, Shakhan is definately a band to watch out for, and with some increased maturity and effort I'm sure this band can hit their stride and make a REALLY original and concerted effort. As it stands, this is a great little EP, but doesn't feel quite fully developed. Still, I recommend you give it a listen, if possible, a bit hard to find.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Moth |
| 2. Sandstorm |
| 3. In The Zone |
| 4. The Summoning |
| 5. Still Left Standing |
: 22.00
| Buy other Shakhan albums |
