Shakra

A Switzerland-based hard rock act formed in 1997, Shakra went through a number of line-up changes (including a vocalist change when the bands' momentum was just getting going) but managed to persevere and keep going for more than ten years. Their first album, 1998's Shakra, and its follow up, (1999's Moving Force,) were strong enough to earn them support slots touring with bands like Great White and Uriah Heep. Real progress was being made with their third album, Power Ride (2001), but unfortunately a health situation forced the departure of vocalist Pete Wiedmer. Mark Fox stepped in to fill the frontman role, and the band recorded and released (in 2003) Rising. The band was a hit on German and Swiss charts, and the band toured extensively in support of their work. After many live shows and tours with Hammerfall and Stratovarius, Shakra released Infected in 2007.