HOS are back with a brand new self titled album.

Like many of you I have a lot of fond memories of House Of Shakira. I loved the way their songs had a different, fun and strange outlook on the usually rigid melodic rock genre. And after listening to their debut album ‘Lint’ (which always brought a smile to my face) and then getting to see them at the God’s Festival, I soon became a massive fan of the band. Now five albums and some fifteen years later HOS are back with a brand new self titled album and once again with those inevitable line-up changes that have always seemed to dog this band. The three new members this time around are Andreas Novak vocals, Basse Blyberg bass and Martin Larsson drums, whose admission to the band has let HOS retain that odd and at times quirky take on rock music, yet has also helped to update the band’s sound and give the songs on ‘HOS’ a much harder yet no less enjoyable edge.

‘Brick Wall Falling’ is the lead off track and immediately you can see what a boon having the wonderful Mr Novak in the band is, his commanding vocal presence makes it obvious that HOS mean business and as the other songs come and go you can hear a band that has been invigorated by the addition of the new members. ‘Carry My Load’ is a fast-paced rocker with some great harmony vocals and a chorus to die for, ‘Fractions Of Love’ is all swagger and attitude (and again the band have a hook that Jonah’s Whale would be frightened of) while ‘All Aboard’ is pure Journey: take a listen, you’ll see what I mean.

‘What Goes Around’ is melodic rock heaven, another sublime vocal from Andreas Novak being complimented by some great gang back up vocals and once more the band have pulled out a wonderful chorus that has your toes a tapping as soon as the track begins to play. ‘Voice In The Void’ continues this hook laden song trend, and with an almost metal like guitar solo, I can imagine it being a live fan favourite for many years to come. ‘Lost In Transition’ slows down the album’s tempo, as it’s an acoustic guitar ballad that has some amazing vocal interplay between the band, and finally we have the KISS riff-a-rama called ‘Out Of My Head’ a song you could see the face painted Gods of Rock playing and it not being out of place in any of their sets (big compliment let me tell you).

So, House Of Shakira is back with an (almost) new band, a new album and a whole new lease of life and if you loved anything they did in the past you really are going to get a big buzz this time around!

ian Johnson