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ABOUT METEORThe Shazam knew that after such a long time away, they'd better come back with a bang. What better way to get everyone's attention than with a brilliant, dazzling Meteor, The Shazam's the long-awaited fifth album and follow-up to the critically acclaimed Tomorrow The World.
Recorded at Sage & Sound in Hollywood, Meteor is produced by Mack, who produced Queen, Black Sabbath, Sparks, Billy Squier, and has worked with Electric Light Orchestra, T. Rex, The Sweet, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Elton John and the Rolling Stones, among others. Collaborating with Mack marks a turning point in the band's 15-year career, giving them the opportunity to record an album with the rock legend who worked on the very albums that influenced their music.
Microsoft to do and onenote. The Shazam's garage rock and power pop roots intertwine to make Meteor the band’s biggest sounding record yet. 'So Awesome', the explosive lead-off track, sets the stage for the whole gamut of The Shazam's modern classic rock. Big, Who-sized guitars collide with glittering insanity ('Disco At The Fairgrounds'), melodic hooks, anthemic rockers ('Dreamcrusher Machine'), sweeping balladry ('Don't Look Down'), layers of vocals, thundering drums, guitars, guitars, guitars. With each successive Shazam album, the band has grown from small-screen to wide-screen in terms of production and grandeur. It was the stripped-down English Mod approach of their 1997 debut that gave The Shazam the credit for starting Nashville's 'powerpop' scene. With sophomore release Godspeed The Shazam came mellotrons, theremins, and overblown psychedelia. Dubbed their 'experimental' album, Rev9 was the bridge from Godspeed to Tomorrow The World's full-tilt arena rock. Meteor is everything Shazam all at once.
All songs on the album were written by singer/guitarist Hans Rotenberry, and his newest batch proves that, even after six years on what was a virtual hiatus, he's still got the megaphone. Those familiar with Scott Ballew's unrestrained, Keith Moon inspired drumming are in for a treat on Meteor, as it is prevalent throughout the entire record. The drums on 'Let It Fly' resound from the heavens, like Zeus pounding out a thunderbolt on a rain cloud. Scott may very well be Hans' musical soul mate, and the two have been the backbone of The Shazam since Hans founded the band in 1994. The Shazam went through some significant changes since Tomorrow The World; new bassist/backing vocalist Mike Vargo replaced Mick Wilson in 2004. Jeremy Asbrock's crisp guitar work and Mike's solid, melodic bass provide the perfect complement to Hans' exuberant style.
Hans says working with Mack was a great experience that gave the band a chance to learn from one of The Greats. 'I'm thrilled with the results,' says Hans. 'It sounds like what The Shazam would have sounded like if we got famous.'
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