For whatever reason, Swiss melodic hard rock band Shakra never really gets the attention that bands like Gotthard, Jorn, Fair Warning or Pink Cream 69 typically receive. It's a shame, because they've been steadily releasing some of the genre's best albums over the past decade. 2007's Infected is the band's sixth album, and picks up right where Fall left off. It's a powerful melodic rock album that's heavy enough to approach metal territory at times. The heaviness comes from the wicked guitar hooks and thundering riffs, and the vocals and background vocal harmonies help maintain the overall melodic edge. There are some amazing melodic rockers on this album, the best being "Look At Me", "Inferno" and "The Conquest". The softer songs are great too. I keep expecting each new Shakra album to be the one that breaks them to a wider audience. Fall didn't do it. Infected should have. Oh well, maybe Everest will seal the deal. If you're a fan of the melodic rock genre, and in particular those bands that tend towards the heavier end of the spectrum, you definitely need to check out Shakra, and Infected is a great album to start with (not that I've heard a bad Shakra album). Fans of Pink Cream 69, Jorn, Pretty Maids, Evidence One and the like should absolutely love what they hear on this album.