SHOGUN MOJO - Album Review

Release Date: 30th October 2026

A new venture featuring a 20 years plus member of one of the biggest bands in rock history Kiss guitar player Tommy Thayer and one of the most recognisable vocal talents in the funk rock world with a career spanning over 40 years, Dan Reed, then add into the mix drummer Robert Ikiz and bassist Bengt Jonasson, its sure to get the ear drums warmed up for the right reasons.

So here we are with the self titled release under the Frontiers label, Shogun Mojo. Its a 10 track stroll through..

‘Funk Party’ is the album opener, gets it right , yep pure funk rock we’ve grown to know and love from Dan but with the that rock guitar under tone bopping away in the background from Tommy.

The second track ‘Under The Gun’ pushes the rock pace a bit and has a great chorus running through it. Guitar solo bursts into life about half way through and pops in and out until the track end. Straight late 70’s early 80’s US East coast city vibe about ‘Gonna Raise Hell’ with some high pitched background vocals creating a soulful, poignant tune. Like it.

‘Nothing To See Here’ brings out for me Dan’s best vocals, he’s moody, paints a picture and outlines a storyline to you, to keep moving on. This is the track where I pick some Kiss style guitar notes of the mid 70’s, quality.

Funky guitar inputs bring you into ‘Turn It Up’ supported with expert rhythm section in Bengt and Robert, lyrics say ‘…fight for the rhythm’ , how true. Love the guitar playing from Tommy in this one, loud brash and full on..

Their version of ‘In The Air Tonight’ is upbeat, doesn’t have the funk base of the other tracks and gives the track a good run out.

‘Dog Eat Dog’ is my out and out album favourite. Up paced tempo gives you good hard driven rock, solid vocals and big guitar sound. Less funky than the other tracks but Dan gives the vocals solid pedigree.

‘Fire With Fire’ brings you back from the pure rock edge of ‘Dog Eat Dog’ and throws in the hint of funk rock we’ve known from Dan in his 40 odd year career.

Shogun Mojo eerily echoes in the opening bars of ‘Fight For The Light’, its a track that is a bit dark, has though all the accompaniments we’ve heard through the album so far, but just phrased differently, good track though.  ‘Star rider’ closes out this self titled release, its upbeat , good solo in the middle from Tommy.



For me favourite track is ‘Dog Eat Dog’ with ‘Nothing To See Hear’, ‘Under The Gun’ and ‘Turn It Up’ running not too far behind it.