Effectively I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! There’s a brand new Shok Paris album floating within the glop and gunk of the promo sump! Really nobody noticed that coming as a result of Shok Paris was a blip on the 80s steel radar, managing three albums that had been respectable however positively low second-tier within the grand scheme of issues. They’re most well-known (and I exploit that time period loosely right here) for the over-the-high vocals of frontman, Vic Hix. The person appeared like Blackie Lawless hopped up on low cost Tremendous Soldier Components and 5 Hour Power whereas making an attempt to channel Danzig and Messiah Marcolin concurrently. The band can also be notable for the massive league screw job I.R.S. Data gave them once they took the grasp of their sophomore launch, Metal and Starlight and utterly rejiggered it with out the band’s information or consent, in the end releasing a bastardized model they didn’t like or help. This huge inventive slight was corrected some 28 years later when Shok Paris launched the unique model of the album, however by then how many individuals nonetheless remembered or cared? The final correct studio launch from these cats got here out in 1988 when Metal was however a meatheaded school ne’er-do-effectively, so you recognize this act has mothballs and cobwebs the place their majestical hair as soon as was. However hey, they nonetheless have Vic Hix to fall again on, so how does Full Metal Jacket sound? Similar to it’s nonetheless 1985, child truffles. Their type nonetheless smacks of Lizzy Borden, Obsession and Fairly Maids and Vic in some way nonetheless packs sufficient noise for a celebration of ten. The perfect issues by no means exit of favor.
This can be a straight forward 80s steel thingamabob, with burly conventional riffs underneath-girding the lusty howling and yowling of Mr. Hix. The songs are all brief and filled with laborious rock idioms amped as much as steel ranges. The title monitor is an anthemic fist pumper that would have come out within the days of Keel and Y&T however packs greater balls and angle. It’s catchy and sufficiently rowdy, setting the tone for what’s to return as one easy stomper after one other assails your light sensibilities. None of them will go down as a 2020 excessive level, however none are unhealthy both. I get pleasure from that they titled a music “Metal on Metal” in direct opposition to Anvil‘s legendary anthem of the identical title, and if Anvil may afford authorized illustration, Shok Paris would absolutely obtain a nasty letter through licensed mail. “Brothers in Arms” is an ode to bromance in the identical wheelhouse as most Manowar numbers, and its supply recollects Alestorm‘s half-assed people antics in amusingly sloppy ways in which I get pleasure from greater than I ought to.
Oddly sufficient, many of the greatest tracks reside on the album’s again-half. Each “Black Boots” and “Hell Day” are testicles to the partitions 80s-type burners with tough n’ prepared riffage and fiery vocals. The album closes out effectively too, with the catchy, upbeat aggression of “Fall from Grace” and the righteous sea shanty “Symphony of the Sea,” which sounds prefer it was swiped from Alestorm or Working Wild in true pirate vogue. If compelled to choose a worst in present, it will be “These Eyes” which is a bit awkward and muddled.
The marvel right here is how effectively Vic Hix’s vocals have held up over the lengthy years. Whereas he isn’t fairly as insanely bombastic as he was within the 80s, I’d nonetheless hesitate to name him restrained and managed. His supply remains to be bigger than life with a slight trace of hair steel cheese, and he can nonetheless deliver the ability, at instances even reminding me of Nasty Ronnie of the late, nice Nasty Savage. Authentic guitarist, Ken Erb and newer addition, John Korzekwa lay down some beefy, raucous riffs and provides the songs loads of gasoline and moonshine to run on. Their assault largely revolves round traditional steel tropes, together with Maiden-esque harmonizing, which is predicted and it really works simply nice. They strictly keep away from overly flashy wanking, saving it for the solos, and people characteristic the correct quantity of metallic extra.
Full Metal Jacket is hardly primarily listening, however I’m happy to see these outdated goats again in motion and this factor actually grew on me with repeated spins. Shok Paris is simply concerning the final underdog story and it is a enjoyable comeback steeped in nostalgia. They’ll by no means make it large, but it surely needs to be satisfying for them to have outlasted the report label that was so intent on screwing them over. Carry on rocking and surprising these rattling Parisians!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWLrrZGFrUU
Ranking: 3.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: No Regret
Web sites: shokparis.com | fb.com/shok-paris
Releases Worldwide: Might 29th, 2020