SHANGO
"Metal
Mafia" (Back Room Records) Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Metal Mafia" (Back Room Records) Reviewed by Snidermann
"Shango" EP Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Shango" EP Reviewed by Snidermann
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
We first discovered Shango when they sent a CD to our offices back in the early days of Rough Edge. We get a lot of great unsigned bands sending us demos and CDs - but Shango grabbed my throat from the beginning.
After listening to this, a four-song demo the band recorded after their previous record label went belly up, I finally realized what it is about Shango that I like so well.
It's the passion. This band loves to rock and they love to rock hard. They play with a magical fury that is biting and driving and powerful.
Without wasting any time, this EP blasts into action with a scathing ripper entitled "Joe The Hook." Played at a breakneck Motorhead speed, "Joe the Hook" prepares the listener for what's to come.
"Wake Up to the Rat" is next and is driven by staccato guitar riffs and Tony Incigeri's hearty vocals. It's a headbanger, pure and simple.
The third track, "Evil Says," begins with a sound like that of Black Sabbath and the morphs into a more Iron Maiden-sounding structure. But it does this without sounding like Sabbath or Maiden. No. It sounds like Shango.
"Monster," the last track on this CD, begins with eerie guitar and then rolls into another headbanging classic, this one bringing to mind the songwriting of Ronnie James Dio and crew.
It's important to note that all of these comparisons are skin-deep at best. Shango has created its own sound; a sound that blends the best of the best into a sonic conflagration all their own. It's loud, it's fast and it'll kick your ass.
It's Shango.
Check out Shango at http://welcome.to/SHANGO
Reviewed by Snidermann
Shango is for real and that's no bullshit. Neither is their music. Shango appeals to my basic musical need like few bands I have ever known. This trio from New York has recorded a new four song demo and let me tell you, it rocks just like their last release, "Metal Mafia" (see below). The only difference, unfortunately, is that this is just an EP.
Check out Shango’s web site at http://welcome.to/SHANGO. Give them a listen and I'm sure you'll agree. Shango is for fucking real. The songs hit home like a heavy metal sledge hammer that rocks the soul. I'm giving this EP 4 chainsaws - one for each song on this demo.
Shango is Tony Incigeri, lead vocals and bass; Robert Racalbuto, drums, vocals and Tom Stigi guitar, vocals.
"Metal
Mafia" (Back Room Records)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Shango (pronounced Shawn-go) is a heavy metal trio based in Brooklyn, New York, whose power is eclipsed only by the great Motorhead. It's ground-breaking releases like "Metal Mafia" that make the lack of great metal in these latter years of the 20th century bearable.
Shango has peeled away all the bullshit associated with metal today and the result is rock'n'roll in its purest form: hard, heavy, energetic, loud and deceivingly simple. Shango's style grabs you by the throat from the start. It appeals to your basic heavy instinct and feeds your metal monkey nicely. This band MUST be experienced to be appreciated and we can't wait to see them live. Check out these Shango websites for more info: http://members.aol.com/nomnynobuy/shangohome.html and http://welcome.to/shango. If you check out this site, go to the posting section and tell them you heard about Shango at roughedge.com.
These web sites are a testament to Shango's popularity in the New York area and, with any luck, they will be visiting Los Angeles soon. We'll definitely be checking out this killer metal band.
Shango gets an enthusiastic 4 chainsaws. It's discovering bands like this that Rough Edge is all about.
Shango is Tony Incigeri, lead vocals and Bass, Tom "Dem Bones" Stigi, lead guitar and vocals and Robert Racalbuto, drums vocals.
In the words of Shango, "Just play the fucking song."
"Metal
Mafia" (Back Room Records)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
It isn't often you can insert a CD from a band you've never heard of before and - seconds after touching the 'Play' button - start banging your against the wall in pure, unadulterated metalmania. But Shango's "Metal Mafia" does just that.
I can't begin to tell you what a great CD this is, suffice to say that it kicks some serious ass. The band is tighter than hell, their songs throbbing with power. There's no artsy-fartsy alternative stuff going on here: Shango is balls-out heavy metal with no shame. Loud, chunky guitars, deep abdomen-shaking bass; driving, sharp-edged drums, growling, rough-edged vocals. It's a combination of Metallica/Motorhead/Megadeth. It's raw power contained in short three-and-a-half minute nuclear explosions.
All right, enough waxing poetic - in short, Shango freaking rules. There isn't a song on this CD that doesn't grab you by the throat and beat you around the face (especially the ears) until you're weak at the knees with abuse. I'm listening to it right now and having trouble hitting the keys on the keyboard. I'd rather be moshing to Shango! Check out the websites Snidermann listed above for more info! We're certain that you'll soon be Shango-ized too!
Rating Guide:
A classic. This
record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it
will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
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Revised: 01 Dec 2019 12:47:21 -0500.
