SPIDERS - Shake Electric

November 30, 2014, 9 years ago

(Spinefarm Records)

Kelley Simms

Rating: 8.0

review hard rock spiders

SPIDERS - Shake Electric

Swedish female-fronted rockers, Spiders, is flying the retro-rock flag high on its sophomore release, Shake Electric. Consisting of 10 tracks at 33 minutes in duration, it makes for the perfect rock album, especially in LP format. Say what you will about the retro rock revival, but these are just good rock songs played by a band who love the ’60s and ’70s style of hard rock and psychedelic rock. It will definitely appeal to both the younger crowd and the older burnout rockers who were exposed to this style of music at an early age. Spiders’ sound is rooted in classic rock influences of artists such as Janis Joplin, Heart, The Runaways, Ted Nugent (with the Amboy Dukes) and Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie, mixed with modern day rock elements. The sweat-drenched, power-jam bashing of drummer Ricard Harryson recalls ’70s rock drummers such as Ginger Baker (Cream) and Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience). The walking baselines of Olle Griphammar, who plays a Rickenbacker, shares a certain technique and reference point with dinosaur rock bassists such as Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper Band) and Paul McCartney. In addition, the warm, fuzzy wah-wah tones of guitarist John Hoyles is also key to the band’s overall sound. And lastly, the howling Janis Joplin-esque vocals of Ann-Sofie Hoyles cannot go unnoticed. Spiders have a knack for implementing softer transitions, usually following a heavy riff, through various instruments (harmonica, piano, cow bell, hand claps). Even a timpani roll can be heard on the title track. Spiders know how to craft a catchy chorus, and even an opening verse line that will stay in your head for days. Although there’s not a bad song in the bunch, stand out tracks are “Mad Dog,” “Hard Times,” “Bleeding Heart,” and “Lonely Nights”. On Shake Electric, Spiders plays a brand of electrified rock ’n’ roll with pleasing results.



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