Shelter
“Eternal”
Good Life

Krishna-core pioneers Shelter (or some semblance of the band) have returned from dormancy with a pop-punk record that rocks but never pick up enough steam to kick ass.

The best song on “Eternal” is another retread of the Shelter classic “In Defense of Reality.” The rest of the songs chug along and a tired pace, never reaching the aggression of the now classic “Mantra,” of the more hardcore-leaning earlier records. Singer Ray Cappo seems to have dumped all his passion into his agro-core project Better Than A Thousand and left the syrupy higher power tunes for Shelter. It makes sense, but damn does the record slow to a halt about halfway through.

Gone is the Youth of Today-style fretwork of John Porcell and Shelter’s bass work hasn’t been up to snuff since Adam Blake split from the band. Shelter 2006 lets the music ride shotgun to Cappo’s cries for universal meditation, peace, love and understanding. The best track on the record is “Built to Resist,” a call to arms that balances a sing-along chorus and Cappo’s signature rapping/singing vocal work. “I’m gonna rise to the surface cause you know I’m possessed,” Cappo sings.

“Eternal” isn’t horrible—It’s 2 million leagues above the wretched “Beyond Planet Earth,” but it could use a little more of that guttural roar that made Cappo a hardcore legend. Then again some legends do just fade away.

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks