Review: Sheela – Burned Down

Lions Pride Music (April 29th, 2024)

Reviewer: Jason Hopper

When the band Sheela found its way into my inbox, I checked out the album before reading the press release. Based on the name of the band and the snippets of songs I heard online, it’s exactly the type of band I thought it would be. What took me by surprise was their origin. I pegged this band as another in a long line of lost U.S. based bands that populated the landscape in the early 90s. I was mistaken. This is a re-release of a 1995 album by a German band. There is nothing that sounds European by this band at all! Their sound is that of an L.A. blues hard rock band. At the time of its original release, there was no distribution in the US market. That’s a shame, as popular music was dire in America in 1995 and I would have welcomed a release like this with open arms. The band has some serious chops and well-constructed songs with lots of showmanship and flair. Better late than never, I guess.

The album blasts through the speakers with ‘Long Time’ and fans of Lynch Mob will dig this track. The change ups between the slower, quieter parts and the explosive riff in the chorus is everything I love about the late 80s hard rock scene. They have several songs that follow this motif and it’s one of my favorite song constructs. A true representation of their potential and representative of the album overall.

Some of my favorites include ‘Reno’, with its fantastic backing vocals, chorus and bridge right before it’s smokin’ solo. The track I played the most on repeat. ‘Kickin’ Up the Dust’ has a Trixter-flair to it, opening with just an acoustic guitar before the band kicks in, first with drum cymbals and guitar strikes, then the full entry for the bridge and chorus. A familiar song structure, but if it ain’t broke….Then there is closing track ‘You Got Something’, where the band cuts loose with the fastest tempo found on the album. Very reminiscent of Heavens Edge. A great way to end the album.

A special mention to a track that at first didn’t impress me but has an ending so spectacular that I immediately had to hit repeat. Ballad ‘Spread Your Wings’ is a very quiet track, with just an electric guitar being plucked softly and a mellow bass line. At around the three-and-a-half-minute mark, the whole band comes in and guitarist Christian Moser kicks off an awesome solo, that leads to some great backing vocals from the band and singer Wolfgang Ilsy Terne reaching for the stratosphere with his vocals, just completely cutting loose. Honestly, there would be no way he would be able to recreate his highs in a live setting without risking him losing his voice, but as a one shot recording, it’s quite powerful.

To be clear, those expecting a fast and heavy release may be disappointed. Apart from the last track, this band is a bit laid back in their approach, with mostly mid-tempo rock tracks reminiscent of bands like Tesla or Tangier. Bands like this in the early 90s were a dime a dozen, but far removed from that time and the sameness of the scene, one can appreciate the quality in these tracks and its throwback feel to those simpler times. To maximize this album’s potential, put it on, close your eyes, and reminisce to those times long ago, and perhaps it will make you feel young again. It certainly did for me.

Tracklist:

1. Long Time
2. Burned Down
3. Claire
4. Ready
5. Holdin’ On
6. Reno
7. Fire Woman
8. Spread Your Wings
9. Kickin’ Up the Dust
10. Hang Tough
11. You Got Something