Written
by David Shouse, posted by blog admin
Shofar’s
early catalog, available on CDBaby, doesn’t differ wildly from their return to
recording, a self titled six song effort. Perhaps their songwriting concerns
are a little more secularized than they were in the Minneapolis band’s earlier
incarnation, but Shofar has always been more about a thoughtful, intelligent
hue for the songwriting rather than some pulpit thumping broadside in a musical
package. The six songs on this new EP lean more towards commercially minded and
melodic rock with a mid-tempo pace, but there are some notable exceptions on
this new release. Vocalist and main songwriter Larry Hagner remains a vital
force at the center of the band’s compositions and has a talent for pouring a
definable presence into the band’s performances. A number of these cuts should
prove especially effective in a live setting.
“Running”
opens the EP up with a blend of aggressive riff-focused guitars and some
lengthy passages, especially during the verses, where they are more fixed on
offering color to the piece. The hard rock portions of the track never really
come again on this release, but Shofar shows they are more than capable of
discharging some believable crunch through their music. “Powerman” is much more
in keeping with the bulk of the EP, though it does place a greater emphasis on
melody than instrumental assertiveness. It is, probably, the song on the EP
best illustrating some of the band’s more obvious musical influences while
still stamping the lyrics with a distinctive identity. “Shades of Grey”, unlike
the aforementioned tune, looks within instead of without and demonstrates the
immense artistry that Hagner and his band mates bring to the band’s more
obviously personal material.
“Hands
Down”, however, is much more clearly in a rowdy rock mode than any song save
the first one. It boasts a particularly zesty chorus, as well, with Hagner
riding high on the wave of its momentum. The band turns in their most inspired
performance of the release as well and it’s keyed by a superb bit of drumming
that sticks in the memory. We end up in a more poetic, imaginative realm with
the EP’s final two cuts as “Countdown” envisions impending global calamity
while the ending tune “The Coming” is open to a number of interpretations
depending on your own imagination and familiarity with Shofar’s past material.
Once again, they distinguish themselves by providing a compelling musical
landscape and allowing listeners to arrive at their own conclusions. This
self-titled EP is an experience like that – it doesn’t force itself on
listeners but, instead, shares its heart and communicates with the hope that it
finds different meaning with each new encounter.
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