Review: Sha-Boom – Another Nail in the Coffin

Silver Lining Music – August 28^th, 2026

Reviewer – Jason Hopper

After an over two-decade hibernation, Swedish hard rockers Sha-Boom have roared back to life with ‘Another Nail In The Coffin‘. While not familiar with key band members, it’s not a full reunion as guitars, bass, backing vocals, production, and mixing is all handled by the incomparable Erik Mårtensson. Having only heard Sha-Boom’s 1990 release ‘Let’s Party‘ (and really digging the Halloween party staple ‘Werewolf’), I did not think much of a release from a band so long removed from the scene. I can for certain declare this album is my biggest underestimation of the year.

‘Another Nail In The Coffin’ is one of the greatest comeback albums I’ve ever seen from any band. To be frank, apart from a few tracks, I never thought much of their ‘Let’s Party‘ album. I was hoping for a few solid tracks with this new one to add to my ever-growing playlist. Turns out that I’m adding every track here. Every single one of them is terrific.

As of this writing, the single ‘Never Stop’ has been released. If you dig that track, then you’ll dig the whole album. Every song is at that level. My description of their sound would be Slade meets Eclipse, with a touch of Cinderella. I’ll give a brief summary of my favorite tracks, even though it’s difficult to isolate standout tracks when every track is outstanding.

While ‘Never Stop’ leaned into the Slade comparison, the title track goes for that Cinderella vibe. Restraint is everything and the band wisely decides to hold back on the striking piano chords until the chorus kicks in, punching up the track with an energy that would not be as impactful if the piano was used throughout.

‘Walk (Far Away)’ is that intersection of Slade and Eclipse. A mid-tempo sign-along blast with a marching-type melody that will take your walk and turn it into a strut if you’re on your feet.

‘Let’s Go’ incorporates the feel and rhythm of their earlier albums and is a high energy scorcher.  ‘One More Drink For The Road’ is a fun, carefree, Cinderella-style romp featuring Linnea Vikstrom, the new lead singer of Thundermother. She and lead singer Dag Finn play off each other well and you can tell they are having a blast recording the track.

The album has a few ballads to break things up nicely. ‘Out of Control’ and ‘A Million Miles Away’ both have catchy as hell melodies and terrific background vocals, with the latter adding a bit of a Country flair into the mix.

The only critique I can offer concerns ‘Farewell, Goodbye’. Lyrically and sonically, it feels like an album closer.  Yet it was placed 7^th on the album. A peculiar choice but nothing that taints the feel of the album and certainly not a slight on closer ‘Emergency’. I personally would have swapped the two tracks. Both are top notch rockers.

I decided to revisit the band’s ‘Let’s Party‘ and ‘R.O.C.K.‘ albums to do a comparison. This new release is their best album and it’s not even close! I am sure a key component is the involvement of Mr. Mårtensson as his anthemic constructs are all over this release.

GOD DAMN do I love it when an album makes me feel I can take on the world! If you are a fan of this band or any of the bands I listed, you are going to be thrilled with this release. Get this album and spread the word, this album needs to be heard as it’s sure to be placed in people’s Top 10 albums of this year.

Track Listing:

1. Never Stop
2. Another Nail in the Coffin
3. Walk (Far Away)
4. The Sun, the Moon, the Stars
5. Let’s Go (88)
6. Out of Control
7. Farewell, Goodbye
   Back on the Streets
8. A Million Miles Away
9. One More Drink for the Road (Feat. Linnéa Vikström)
10. Emergency

Line-up:

Dag Finn – Lead Vocals

Erik Mårtensson – Guitars, Bass and Backing Vocals

Thomas Broman – Drums

Jonas Öijvall – Keys

Thomas Vikström – Backing Vocals

Web Links:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube​   

Spotify