ZHIVA is finally back after a seventeen year hiatus with their full-length album released on October 20, 2023 “Into The Eye Of The Storm” which marks the fourth full length album following “After Shiva” (2002), “Desert Dreams” (2004) and “The Curse of the Gift” (2006), all released under the band name SHIVA. The sublime songwriting of guitarist Mats Edström together with the powerful voice and lyrics of Anette Johansson has, together with the rest of the band, produced an album at the junction of Melodic Symphonic Metal and Hard Rock. The energy of the earlier albums carefully was combined with a fresh take on lyrical content and the result is an album that consists of ten songs with heavy riffs together with dramatic melodies. The album is mixed and produced by Mats Edström and recordings took place in Strömbergs Studios. I’m always curious why a band could have such a long lapse of time between albums and in this case also change names. Are they running from the law or did the creative juices dry up? So, giving ZHIVA the benefit of the doubt, let’s see if it was worth the wait.

Opening quite promising on “Breaking the Chains” with a nasty riff before layering in the symphonic flavored vocals that lack any power or conviction giving way to, and I really hate to say this, but a pop-oriented TAYLOR SWIFT feel despite the hardened tempo lingering in the background, needless to say, a baffling start. “Step Into The Fire” gives us more crackle than pop adding gritty vocals delivering a slightly edgier abstract sound. The title track “Into The Eye Of The Storm” releases some darkened and doom laden riffs with the sexy vocals that feel like a Dominatrix is telling me “what a naughty boy” I’ve been all seasoned with the impassioned lyrics: “I feast in the darkest minds, surrounded by eternal night. In the dark, where you see the light.” A well designed effort. The next three tracks “Autumn Sky”, “Broken” and “Beyond Forever” can all be lumped together as “cookie cutter” melodic symphonic rock. Despite the powerful vocal delivery of Anette Johansson the overall product just lacks fire or vigor that confuse the mood of the songs and give them an incomplete feel and without direction. “Last Tears” turns it up a notch with more guitar evident finishing off with a bold and beefy riff and nice solo.

Not being a big fan of Melodic Symphonic Metal and Hard Rock, I always look to find the musical expression and nuances throughout the album. The vocals are usually at the forefront and the main attraction as well as focusing on melodies and themes, and ZHIVA did accomplish that. The accompanying keys, bass and drums were all right on and high caliber, but the album did, however, suffer from the lack of good, solid lead guitar work, and I’m sorry, I need some shredding to keep me involved.