Written
by Daniel Boyer, posted by blog admin
Shofar’s
return to the musical arena with a six song self-titled EP will likely stand,
by year’s end, as one of more successful releases in the band’s admittedly slim
discography. It marks their first studio work since 2005’s Turn, but the time
away hasn’t dulled their musical acumen in any appreciable way and, indeed, it
seems lead singer and songwriter Larry Hagner has further matured during his
time away from the microphone. The band’s religious/spiritual based message
hasn’t been secularized, per se, but rather subsumed into an accessible vehicle
that presents it alongside recognizable sounds and avoids any hint of hectoring
or sermonizing. This is far, however, from a glorified solo vehicle for Hagner
– taken as a whole and on an individual basis alike, the songs on this
self-titled EP are clearly the product of a cohesive unit with each member
making important contributions to the overall whole.
There’s
a nearly progressive, quasi-classical intro kicking off the EP opener “Running”
before a wall of pulverizing guitars falls on the listener’s head. The chaos
clears for Hagner’s vocals to enter the mix and the nicely melodic qualities of
his voice contrast nicely with song’s recurring raucousness. The indie nature
of the band’s recording doesn’t hold them back at all; everything has a high
level of production polish and an obvious ear for instrumental balance. While
the rock histrionics of the opening track afford Hagner a chance to flex his
hard rock muscle, we get an opportunity to hear his more classic melodic
strains on “Powerman”. There’s some backing vocals sweetening things here at
key points and some steady, unspectacular, but wildly successful guitar work.
“Shades of Grey” is, like the aforementioned tune, more modulated than the EP
opener, but it has a strong alt-rock stride that gives it some added urgency
over “Powerman” and there’s a wider vocal presence on this tune that helps the
tune come off quite nicely.
“Hands
Down” is more about observing a specific character than any particular message
and one of Hagner’s best writing jobs on this collection. It’s a hell of a rock
track as well that percolates with real rock power and an appealing “sweep”
carrying listeners along. “Countdown” and the finale “The Coming” are much more
in keeping with the band’s earlier material, but there’s an intensely human
quality to these songs that keeps them tethered to relatable qualities instead
of sounding unduly preachy. Shofar’s self-titled EP is a great musical mix
that’s equally capable of overwhelming listeners as it is beguiling them. This
is a talented band that we need to help redeem challenging times in the world
of rock and roll. They bring great music to the table along with first class
lyrics that draw you in.
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