Gabor Kleinbloesem (Strutter´zine):
SHIVA is back with their third CD ‘The Curse Of The Gift’, which shows the band moving more and more into an own style, which is a mixture of Melodic Metal, AOR, Progressive Metal and Heavy Rock, with the extraordinary lead vocals of singer Anette Johansson. Although the first song “When Tomorrow Never Comes” starts very heavy and modern with male growling, the chorus is very melodic and sounds like Masterplan. The CD contains more of these beauties, such as “Kill The Past”, “The Fly”, “The Black Widow” and especially the melodic rocker “The Chameleon” which you can not get out of the head after hearing it the first time, because the chorus is very catchy. Shiva are not your standard female fronted band, as they have something that makes them different than most other female fronted bands out there, which is of course due to their singer, who has a very raw voice a la Grace Slick and also the slightly modern complexity of the band’s instrumental approach. This all together with some very smooth melodic choruses makes Shiva sound very different, although they could well be called the female version of Masterplan, because the Melodic (Prog) Metal goes into that direction for sure. Definitely the band’s best release so far! Check out more on them at: http://www.shivahardrock.com
(Points: 8.6 out of 10)
Desert Dreams
Ok, I can assure
you that this group is the answer to those who argue that traditional
heavy metal-hard rock cannot be fresh, innovative and that we
have heard everything already many-many times. Not that Shiva
provides here something completely new, rather have created
an amazing mixture of various kinds of heavy music in such a
way that the sound is interesting and rigorous. And of course
this is bad for other groups of the traditional genre that play
the same things again and again. The two members of the band,
Mats Edstrvm (guitars, keyboards, background
vocals) and Anette Johansson (lead and background
vocals), have created a heavy pandemonium inviting us to dance.
By the way Anette's vocals give a strange,
ethereal tone to the heavy songs. All those who have broken
their backbones headbanging with Warlord, Helloween,
Savatage, Judas Priest have
now found an amazing album which blends all these influences
in a modern blender and presents them with attitude, originality
and passion! Astonishing songs of all possible moods and tunes
march in front of us and I feel I'm in the middle of a tornado
called "Completely Strangers"! I know I'm really harsh
on the band with my grade...
Andrew
McNeice (melodicrock.com):
Shiva
have done what all good bands should do – deliver an album
that builds on their debut, while moving forward a little. But
some might find the band have moved too far forward, with a
far heavier and more contemporary sound employed on several
tracks.
Their first album was a great example of Swedish melodic hard
rock, with lead vocalist Anette Johansson one
of the finds of the year. I described the album as a heavier
and Scandinavian version of Robin Beck.
On the band's follow-up, "Desert Dreams", things are
a little different. The sound has been modernized slightly and
the guitar attack has been beefed up considerably.
It takes more than a couple of listens to get your head around
the new sound, but it does become more familiar each listen
and you do come to a point where this and the debut don't sound
too far apart.
The opening three tracks are actually the most modern and the
most aggressive, before the remaining songs revert to a more
melodic rock friendly style.
That said, there are some good hooks within the heavier tracks,
but they are wrapped in a modern feel some may not be so willing
to adapt to.
Once you arrive at "Completely Strangers" and the
haunting rock ballad "Losing My Child", the Shiva
that impressed on their debut is clearly evident.
"Passenger Of Life" continues the powerful and passionate
melodic rock, while "Crucified" provides a hard rocking
burst.
The album closes with another modern tinged aggressive rocker,
but the guys don't forget to include a chorus hook and a memorable
guitar riff.
The Bottom Line:
Shiva's new album isn't a one-time listen.
It requires a little bit of work, but if you invest the time,
it will reward you. The sound has definitely been updated, but
it has been done in way that incorporates the sound of the acclaimed
debut, with a more contemporary feel.
The guys are trying to move forward in a scene that doesn't
always appreciate such ambition. But the bottom line is that
the band have recorded another strong set of songs that sounds
fresh and inviting for the year 2004. It may not quite have
the strength of the debut, nor the same melodic rock base, but
it certainly rocks.
8,5
Mattias
Nilsson (www.metalcentral.net):
Heavy/ Power
metal with female vocals are rather commonplace these days,
but Shiva sure stand out in the crowd. No,
this is not yet another run-of-the-mill band that has placed
a dainty little blonde gal at the mic; Annette Johansson
has a set of pipes that can whoop Manowar’s
hairy asses any old day! Shiva’s music
reminds me of my old mix tapes from the early 90´s: A
snippet of good honest Swedish 80´s rock intertwined with
more contemporary tunes and (in my case) the compulsory female
vocals. For a more in depth description of Shiva,
I can hint to bands such as Europe, Stone
Temple Pilots, Skunk Anansie (the
vocals), Phantom Blue (again; vocals), and
Rising Force etc. A solid and at the same time
diverse metal stew indeed, for both good and bad. For as the
songs are quite varied in between themselves, you never get
tired from listening to the album, but at the same time they
give a somewhat patchy impression on their own. If you didn’t
know better, you’d think you were listening to completely
different bands altogether. One thing is for certain: The choruses
are spot-on, and the title track more so than any other song
on the album. However, I must give a word of warning: The song
'Losing My Child' comes awfully close to being a rip-off of
the hit song 'My Heart Will Go On' (Celine Dion).
The guitars, and mainly the solo parts, sometimes give away
the impression that we’re listening to a guy who didn’t
quite make it in “the good ol’ days” (i.e.:
80’s hair band era). Now he’s been given the chance
to record an album, and is more than ready to show off his skills.
The problem is that it sometimes sounds more like Yngve
Malmsten that Yngwie, if you catch
my drift. But the album is saved by the outstanding vocals.
I haven’t listened to anything else since I got 'Desert
Dreams', and there’s a reason why: It’s that damn
good! Score:7/10
Juha
(Melodic.net):
Shiva
released their debut album on Z Records sometime
ago and now vocalist Anette Johansson and Mats
Edstrom on guitar and keyboards follows up that debut
with "Desert Dreams".
Back in 1994 this duo released an album with the band Yankee
Heaven that was a boring and average melodic hardrock/AOR
album. If the debut was AORish then "Desert Dreams"
is the opposite with heavy guitars, bombastic keyboards with
a modern sound, it´s a brilliant mix of heavy melodic
hardrock with some nu-breed influences. The album is filled
with awesome melodies but I must say that it's Anette
Johansson's vocals that gives this album a whole new
identity.
This girl has a voice that will chock you for sure because she
has both the power, passion and feeling in her voice. It's been
a long time since I heard a female vocalist this good, she rocks
big time and reminds a little bit of Amy Lee
(Evanescence) with more power. Soundwise this
can be compared with acts like Pink Cream 69,
Helloween and Crystal Ball
with a female vocalist. There is also some hints of Evanescence.
The album opens up with 3 tracks that are heavy as hell but
still very melodic and with great variation. Plus with Anettes
vocals they manage to bring out some outstanding riff-tastic
songs with power and memorable hooklines. After that they deliver
absolutely brilliant melodic hardrock songs, like the superb
"Completetely Strangers". It opens up with hard and
heavy guitarriffs from Mats mixed with lovely
melodies and the chorus is brilliant with great hooks that will
rip your face off.
The ballad "Losing My Child" is beautiful and reminds
of Evanescence's "My Immortal" so
you can imagine that this is something extra. "Crucified"
is a huge driven pompy rocker with plenty of crunching guitars
and this song has the chorus of the album. Classy stuff. The
end of the album is again a bit heavier than the middle part
but it's great stuff with high quality songs. This Swedish duo
has really surprised me and MTM will have a
strong release with Shiva. If you into more
heavier melodic hardrock with some modern influences so don´t
be affraid to discover this fantastic album.
Urban
"Wally" Wallstrom (RockUnited.com):
Faster! Harder!
Louder! Errr... get your mind out of the gutter as these words
sums it all up pretty darn good. The Swedish duo Shiva,
consisting of female vocalist Anette Johansson
& Mats Edström [guitars/songwriter],
returns with a marvelous follow up album and 2004 is off to
a fine start indeed. However, keep in mind that "Desert
Dreams", is a rather big step from their debut album in
2002, as they've gone for 'total metal' this time.
The first three tracks are very powerful with a sound similar
to Judas Priest ["Painkiller" era],
mixed with some Skew Siskin. And those vocals...
wow! You know... I can't recall any better female metal vocalist
to ever come out of Sweden, or any other part of Europe for
that matter. Anette Johansson chews 'em all
up and spits 'em out as she sings like a possessed one. I'll
gladly take my hat off [among other things], for this marvelous
metal-goddess. You really can't compare her with someone else
right now as she is truly 'one of a kind', with a voice both
stronger than steel and louder than hell [I need to stop playing
those Manowar albums]. Doro
is remarkably pale in comparison and you really shouldn't go
there in the first place either. "Unjustify The Truth"
hits ya' right between the eyes with its enchanting chorus and
heavy approach. This is Priest with female
vocals and throw in some riffs a'la Malmsteen,
while you're at it.
Almost every track are still blessed with catchy melodies and
big choruses though. Especially track 4-10 are very 'hit friendly'
with their roots firmly grounded, into 80's melodic metal/rock.
"Completely Strangers" is a superb rocker, while "Losing
My Child", is a semi ballad that goes straight to the heart.
The lyrics are really touching and you can't hardly imagine
the pain of someone who's losing a child. "Passenger Of
Life" is another winner, while "Porno Star" is
almost like part 2 of "Shame On You", from their first
CD. Heavier than their debut in certain parts, but still very
impressive.
9
Tony
(ConcreteWeb.be):
This is in essence a duo of Swedish origine, and comprised of
guitarist/keyboardist/backing vocalist Mats Edström
and vocalist Anette Johansson. Probably also
just a studio project...but to me, it's the music they make
that counts! And that's not too bad at all! Labeled as 'Hard
Rock' by themselves (& the label), there are admitingly
heavier influences at work in quite a bit of the songs on the
band's 2nd album, giving rather a ate '80s US Metal touch to
those songs in question. Anette is an amazing
vocalist, very powerful at moments (I couldn't believe I was
listening to a female singer when first hearing the album opening
"Mystery Of Mind"), but also quite versatile. She's
also apparently somewhat of a misantrope, as she lives in the
Swedish outback bush with her 12 Siberian Huskies. My favorite
tracks are definitely the heavier ones ("Mystery Of Mind";
"Desert Dreams", with its Arab touch in the vocals;
"Unjustify The Truth", with its funny Funky interlude,
"Porno Star", with its bewildering lyrical topic;
and the album closing "The Preacher"), but Anette
has a way with ballads ("Losing My Child") or semi-
and heavy ballads ("Completely Strangers" with its
nice touch on the vocals at the beginning, and a great solo
guitar; "Passenger Of Life", which is simply beautiful)
as well). Although musically things are mainly focused around
very strong and catchy riffs (very Millennium
sound!), there's place enough for extra lead and short solo
play, and for some elusive keyboards as well. Oh...look out
for an interview in the immediate future! Anette
is probably one of the strongest vocalists in the scene, and
only for that Shiva deserves to be a close
contender in my favorite albums list of 2004!
95/100
Uli
Lennartz (MelodicJourney.com):
Unter sehr
unglücklichen Umständen wurde das Debüt des schwedischen
Duos zu Beginn des letzten Jahres auf dem kranken Z
Records Label veröffentlicht. Wie so viele Musiker
hatten sie dem Label vertraut, in der Hoffnung, dass neben der
Veröffentlichung auch Geld gibt. Leider war der Labelchef
nur daran interessiert ein großes Auto zu fahren und den
Musikern und andere nicht zu bezahlen. Die Quittung hat er dafür
zwar noch nicht in der letzten Konsequenz bekommen, aber das
wird noch kommen! Zurück zur Musik. Gitarrist Mats
Edström und die - aus meiner Sicht beste Rockröhre
- Anette Johansson haben auf "Desert Dreams“
ihren Stil auf etwas mehr härte getrimmt. Das gefällt
vielleicht dem ein oder anderen beim ersten Durchlauf nicht
unbedingt. Dieses ändert sich jedoch mit jedem weiteren.
Spätestens ab dem dritten mal wird diese Scheibe zur absoluten
Sucht. Mats Edström präsentiert sich
als DAS Riffmonster schlecht hin. Jedem Song liegt ein Killerriff
zu Grunde. Hinzu kommt die fantastische Stimme von uns Anette.
Als bekennender Frauenstimmen-in-der-Hardrock-Sparte-Hasser
werde ich hier, wie schon beim Debüt, zehnmal eines Besseren
belehrt. Liebhaber von powervollem, bombastischen Hardrock kommen
an "Desert Dreams“ nie und nimmer vorbei. Wenn das
in 2004 so weitergeht, dann habe ich wieder Hoffnung. Unser
Ear Candy im Januar!
Stefan
Koller (MelodicJourney.com):
Einwandfrei
kommentiert, lieber Uli! Das Jahr fängt ja bereits mit
einigen Highlights an, wovon Shiva sicherlich
das herausstechendste Album im Januar 2004 abliefern. In keinem
der von dir angesprochenen Punkte würde ich widersprechen,
selbst bei den Vocals sind wir uns einig. Denn gerade im Hardrockbereich
gibt’s nicht all zu viele Mädels am Mikro, die mich
überzeugen können. Anette tut es allemal! Neben Pink
Cream 69 mein Highlight für den Jahresanfang!
Das mehr als die Hälfte unserer Redaktion “Desert
Dreams” in der Playlist führt spricht zudem Bände!
9 (Ear Candy, Album Of The Month)
Nicky Baldrian (Aor
Dreamzones):
Shiva
are back with their second release. At first listen "Desert
Dreams" is slightly disappointing and sounds like a grungier
industrial fuelled Phantom Blue. Further investigation
brings in other melodic progressive ideas more in the vein of
Lana Lane or Meldrum's album from a couple of years ago. However,
I think it's because the first song 'Mystery Of Mind' is very
heavy and grungy and industrial in places with cranked up guitars
that may put off fans of the bands debut. I for one was not
impressed with this track at all. And who the hell designed
the cover artwork? Tut tut, looks cheap and nasty if compared
to their classy debut.
They sound like a different band. It's good that the band have
had the balls to progress and not just copy what they did on
the debut, but sometimes when a radical change like this happens
it's not always a good thing, and what the hell has happened
to singer Anette Johansson's vocals? She now
sounds like Tarrie B from Tura Satana,
heavy and grungy, I suspect she has probably died her hair red
or black, got tattoos and her nosed pierced and become a bad
ass punk bitch because that's how she sounds on crap songs like
'Desert Dreams'. It's weird that they go for this industrial
style and crank up the guitars then the choruses do seem to
be melodic where Anette sounds more like herself,
but it just doesn't work and the songs seem to be muddled, and
uninspiring.'Unjustify The Truth' just bangs its way through
the grungy metal motions, this is a slightly better song, but
the change from heavy to grungy metal madness doesn't work,
maybe they are trying to get on the Ozzfest
or something I don't know and I don't like it.
'Completely Strangers' started off hopeful then the industrial
flavors leap into the mix, thankfully though this is more like
the Shiva we know and love and the song shows many progressive
twists and shredding guitars with Anette sounding
more like Ann Wilson than Tarrie B,
phew. 'Losing My Child' is a melodic ballad and so far the best
song on the whole CD, this is Shiva how I want
to hear them, beautiful with a massive chorus with huge vocals
from Anette.
From here on the band seem to come back down to earth, and deliver
what is expected, 'Passenger Of Live' is thankfully melodic
and progressive, but lacks fire. 'Crucified' was pretty good
and catchy with lots of spirit and another of the albums best
songs, whilst 'Porno Star' was just dull and lackluster. 'Dawning
Of A New Horizon' is a nice melodic song with lush harmony vocals
and melodies and gets really strong and catchy and last song
'The preacher' is a burning frantic rocker, but with little
bite that gets back into the grungy style.
So basically Shiva have opted for a heavier
sound, if you really want to hear bands in this style, try Sister
Sin, In Memory or even Doro
Pesch who all do this thing much better than Shiva.
I'm very disappointed with "Desert Dreams which is maybe
the worst album of 2003.
50/100
Demos &
Debut
Nicky
Baldrian (Nikammusic productions):
"This
set of demos from the new band Shiva are pretty
bombastic keyboard driven pompy progressive rock mixed with
hardrock. The nice thing about Shiva is that
they are very talented and clearly enjoy what they are doing.
The first two tracks on this CD are "Free My Soul"
and "Dow Jones index". The two songs are full of majestic
and sometimes progressive melodies that twist and change in
many beautiful musical directions, especially the latter as
it also has a driving arrangement which makes the song sound
very similar to Guild of Ages and Dreamtide.
Next up is a cracking hard rock song called "Shame On You"
which reminds me of Bonfire and Giant
and is very catchy and commercial hard rock, this style continues
on "Would You Lie To Me", which is a killer piece
of melodic rock a la Silent Rage, Dare,
Bon Jovi and Giant, the arrangement
possesses a huge hook. This is my fave song by the band, it
just rocks so much and the vocal harmonies are very strong and
suit the structure of the song. Check out "Lead Me On",
this song is in the Europe and Von
Groove vein and is excellent, as is the very melodic
"Marilyn" and the superb ballad "One More Day",
this song is a passionate and very beautiful AOR ballad with
huge vocals reminding me of Heartland. I think we have discovered
another killer band here, this is just demos yet the songs sound
very well produced and I cannot see any reason why Shiva couldn't
get themselves a record deal".
Fred Monster (ex-Majestic Magazine):
"Is this
a girl singing? My God, where has she been hiding all this time
then? Anette's got one of the most powerful
female voices in Rock today, no doubt. Mats Edström's
heavy guitars leave a big impression as well. "Free My
Soul" definitely is my favorite song on the demo.
On "Dow Jones Index" the band eases up a bit. Both
the opening riff as well as the chorus remind me of the KISS
(and Robin Beck) tune "Hide Your Heart".
"Dow Jones Index" is just a bit faster, heavier too,
but as catchy as they come. On they go with "Shame On You"
that opens in the Def Leppard vein and goes
on as a mid-tempo monster, with an important role for both
Anette's voice and Mats's heavy riffing
again."
Gabor Kleinbloesem (Strutter´zine):
"The
demo contains 7 tracks and actually it sounds very sensational...
Shiva is another great new band from Sweden,
and they have a very diverse style which stays always very melodic
in its approach..."
Ed
Kruijskamp (Rock
Report):
"It's
really marvellous to still hear so much quality coming out of
this country... All tracks are classy, powerful, well-crafted,
very tightly played and their female vocalist is just amazing."
Urban
"Wally" Wallstrom (AOR-Europe):
"The
demo contains seven tracks and overall sound is really sensational!
You could say they mix the best of the 80´s (Swedish)
Melodic Hardrock with some modern influences....
