Shirock – Everything Burns

Shirock‘s Everything Burns is an ambitious record. That’s the easiest way to describe it because like Muse does, Shirock goes for a massive, arena pop-rock sound that ebbs and flows with emotion, pulls the listener in and explodes with passion. So yeah, ambitious is a good word to describe it.

The Muse comparison is quite evident, but this quintet doesn’t sell itself by using over indulgent guitar lines but instead holds back for a more well rounded sound that encompasses numerous different facets that are still able to lift the listener’s ears and spirits. The guitar work is evident in tracks like Time Goes By but at other times they pull in similarities to acts like One Republic, U2 or Coldplay. Those comparisons may not be the most enticing for some listeners – they wouldn’t truly grab my interest either – but there’s something within the grandiose sound of Shirock that has grabbed my attention; and could very easily grab yours.

At times its the lyrics. Words of living life for what matters (and a not for profit organization to support those ideals) seep through every song. They are songs with tinges of hope and sincerity, songs of love and songs of inspiration. Then you see there’s more than just the lyrics. At times its the way the lyrics are sung. While they don’t sound at all like Tom DeLonge in Angels & Airwaves, the attitude in the delivery is the same in the way that they make you want to close your eyes and spread out your arms as you sing along. The mixture of both male and female vocals of the same intensity and passion cement that sensation and add an extra layer not found in many of the band’s contemporaries. Then there’s the musicianship. The lush, slickly produced sound that builds on itself with different effects, piano and keyboards. It’s whatThe Killers try to do, but Shirock actually does it.

Everything Burns is most definitely not for everyone and it’s in no way perfect (in fact, I have yet to be able to listen to the final two tracks in complete succession, I just need to stop them before they finish normally and move on to something else). But there’s something in this alternative pop-rock that will touch a few listeners. It’s an album that begs to be played with headphones and in silence, as you close your eyes and let your imagination soar.