Shihad

Long renowned as one of New Zealand’s greatest rock bands, Shihad’s 22-year career is being recognised with induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award at the 2010 Vodafone NZ Music Awards. It’s far from the first time the band has been honoured – they were named Most Promising group at the 1991 Music Awards and has scooped up a stack of Tuis in their 22-year career. Awards include Group of the Year in 1993, International Achievement in 1995 and 2000 and Top Male vocalist in 1995 and 1999.

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Shihad have unveiled their new artwork for their forthcoming album Ignite set for release on Monday 20 September. Its fitting that Shihad’s eighth studio album should be called Ignite. Since the very beginning Shihad’s music has been both the bands’ livelihood & lifeblood, positively infused with their unwavering enthusiasm and excitement. And as the band celebrate this satisfying stage of their career, they show no signs of cooling off.

Last night Shihad played their 1995 album Killjoy live at The Powerstation (so read this review first) and tonight they played their 1999 album The General Electric. This was the last date of the tour of Australia and New Zealand and it seemed quite fitting as the band have a lot of history with The Powestation. Being a Brit and having not seen Shihad live before, I wasn't sure what to expect from tonight. The gig was delayed because of the rugby so the support band The Heavy Metal Ninjas, didn't start until 9.45pm and Shihad weren't on until 11pm. There was a long wait for Shihad to come out once after the stage was setup, there was a lot of excitement and everyone was chanting 'Shihad! Shihad! Shihad!'.

Shihad are a bit of an institution in New Zealand. They formed back in 1988, and evolved from their industrial thrash metal roots to become our very own heroes of rock music as god intended it. Even though they've now relocated to Melbourne (a popular choice for many Kiwi ex-pats) they'll always be one of New Zealand's best loved rock bands. I even think of 'Home Again' as an alternate version of our national anthem, so you can imagine how excited I was when I heard that Shihad were doing a tour of Australia and New Zealand playing two of their best albums, Killjoy and The General Electric in their entirety. It was like a dream come true.

Cairo Knife Fight take the coveted Wellington support slot for the upcoming Shihad album shows. Cairo Knife Fight is the dangerous twosome Nick Gaffaney, a man who has drummed his way around the place for many of our leading songwriters, and Aaron Tokona, the founder and front man of iconic rock group Weta. Spitting on the rock band rule book, it’s the drummer stepping out of the shadows to lead. One loop station, a synth and a couple of guitar amps can generate massive noise in the right hands.

Shihad will be performing two of their iconic albums, Killjoy and The General Electric, track by track at venues in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. In support of this stone cold fact, this July and August, Shihad will embark on a series of two-night performances in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Night one will consist of a full song-by-song live run through of Killjoy, with Shihad repeating the process with The General Electric on night two. Suffice to say all dates on this highly anticipated tour will sell-out.

Shihad have confirmed September 20 as the release date for their new studio album Ignite. The album has been self produced at Shihad’s own studios in Melbourne, and is the follow up to 2008’s #1 album Beautiful Machine. Ignite is their 8th album in their 22 year career. Three tracks on the album including the current single Lead or Follow have been mixed by world class production genius Dave Sardy best known for his work with RHCP, Jet, System of a Down, Stone Temple Pilots and Wolfmother.

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A documentary about kiwi rock legends Shihad has been announced and is currently in it's pre-production stage after two years of planning. Film maker and critic Graeme Tuckett is heading the project along with Wellington producers Grant Roa and Laurence Alexander, and award-winning cinematographer Simon Baumfield. Tuckett has said that as well as being a full on documentary with a full background of the band, the film will inlcude heaps of live footage from London, Berlin, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand. One concert will even be shot with up to 10 cameras, providing a close-up view for fans.

This summer, recent New Zealand music hall of fame inductees, Shihad, hit the road with respected high energy two-piece Cariro Knife Fight and 2010 APRA Silver Scroll award winners The Naked & Famous, the young bloods of the New Zealand rock scene. Taking in three dates across the country, these shows offer the unique opportunity to witness some of the heavy hitters of the local live scene playing alongside their personal picks. All promoting new releases and fresh off the back of a successful year of local and international performance, these holidays catch this unique trio together, live in concert.

Kiwi rock legends Shihad took fans on a trip down memory lane earlier this year, when they performed their beloved albums Killjoy and The General Electric. The audience may have slightly changed (in the same way a fine wine matures!), but the band’s electrifying and energetic performance took people right back. For those who missed it, and those who want to relive it, The General Electric will be played in it’s entirety at 2011’s Big Day Out.

Opening act tonight was Cairo Knife Fight who, despite only having only two members, created a huge wall of sound by employing the usage of looping pedals. Particularly impressive was Nick Gaffaney’s phenomenal drumming. How he manages to sing, drum and play bass on the synth with his left hand whilst operating the looping pedal simultaneously I’ll never know. Who said men can’t multi-task? Their moody, ambient sound would have better suited a later slot once the sun had set, but their playing can’t really be faulted.

Legendary New Zealand rockers, Shihad have confirmed the tracklisting for their November 7 greatest hits collection, The Meanest Hits. After winning the