Eight years in the making, local Wellington metallers, Shakhan, released their debut Extended Play “IN THE ZONE” in November 2002. Deeply immersed in the scene from a young age of 15, Shakhan have been influenced and shaped by a wide selection of artists ranging from devastating yet melodic composers to classic eighties thrash metal bands.
Melodic and danceable without sacrificing rhythmic intensity and roughness, Shakhan create a groove based sound while still keeping true to the conventions and unique qualities of metal. Keeping it real and at the same time pushing the sound to a new dimension.
Uplifting and positive, they enhance a dynamic new angle on the metal sound; their style is a mixture of brutal grooves, charging guitar riffs, deep driving bass lines and harsh roughneck vocals.
From the very beginning (they still remain humble and down to earth) as a high school band in Wellington, Shakhan emulated such groups as Metallica, Carcass, Anthrax and Sepultura