Shok Paris - Concrete Killers

Shok Paris, with their knack at crafting solid full lengths, their catchiness, and hell - even having track featured in the thrilling car chase scene in the ultra badass sci-fi action horr flick The Hidden (1987), seemed to have just about all the requirements to break into commercial success, but for various reasons, they never quite made it. Shok Paris, though highly regarded in underground circles, never really is heard uttered in the same breath as Queensryche, Liege Lord or Flotsam & Jetsam. Slightly lower down the popularity scale (only a couple of reviews on Metal Archives at the time of writing), and though the band is being increasingly talked about more recently, I still feel they're somewhat under-appreciated, for what they managed to accomplish.

'Concrete Killers' - the terrific Ohio band's third full length, dropped in '89 after the punishingly tough debut of '84, and the professional and pounding follow up 'Steel & Starlight' - with it's wicked album art. It's quite a strong an album, seeing the bar was set high with their first two releases. There are strong tracks on offer and flashes of that real Shok Paris magic that made the first two records brilliant additions to the US power canon. Probably one of the best metal bands you never heard of!!

Track List

01. American Dream
02. Heart and the Fire
03. Away Too Long
04. Hold Out
05. In the Dark
06. Get It Right
07. Find a Way Out
08. Memories
09. One War With the World
10. Windows
11. Concrete Killers