Shock

Shock is a record on which TESLA, while keeping the frame of its bluesy hard rock, added a more compact, modern drive. Through co-production by Def Leppard’s Phil Collen, the outline of the guitars and the clarity of the choruses are emphasized, and Jeff Keith’s voice leads the songs straight. Rather than reproducing the old sound as is, it re-sounds TESLA’s earthiness in a clear, modern sonic image. On the lead single “Taste Like” and the racing title track “Shock,” thick riffs and memorable choruses line up plainly. Collen’s production adds a pop shine that reaches a wider audience without harming the band’s inherent live feel. A stance of actively taking in new sounds even after a long career breathes throughout. With tactile American hard rock and refined production fusing naturally, it is an ambitious, accessible record — one open to longtime fans and new listeners alike.