First Night - Deep Connection (album review)

First Night is a band from Estonia. South of Sweden. West of Russia. Not a household place for melodic rock and tough to find on a map. But this power house band from Nordic land has mastered the art of melodic rock like few bands on the scene today. Rather then being overproduced or riddled with compression and mindless noises, FN thrives on simple, big ear candy production ideas. The result is a stunningly pure minimalist foray into the world of Def Leppard with strong hints of Toto and Survivor along with other 80's reference points. The material on this album is well written and instantly finds a place in your musical consciousness. 

"These Hearts" opens this extended set with an instant melodic punch and could easily be considered a hit song. The chorus is big, the production is lush, and those Mutt Lange references are all over the place. "Little Love" combines bright keyboard flourishes with a crystal clear acoustic guitar. It's a real power ballad that gets brighter and more meaningful with each listen. I kept going back to listen to this one over and over. "Beginning of The End" opens with a flashy keyboard riff coupled with upbeat guitar work. The pairing is present from start to finish. Rather then opt for the big wall of sound, instruments fall in and build as the songs progress. "Savage Heart" follows this formula perfectly and includes a great storyline. "It's Only Feeling" is a moody late night driving tune featuring a churning rhythm section and a blissfully sparse arrangement. 

Keyboard intros are so cool. And "Love Me" has one. But then it builds into a great mid-tempo runner filled with all of the earphone textures your ears can handle. The choruses are large and impactful as if the songs are actually really good, which they are. Songwriting and production. Not one or the other but both! "Don't Ever Say Goodbye" showcases the First Night vocal blend by employing an instant hook and a chorus that you will hear in your sleep. And lets not forget the perfect guitar solo at the end.  "Someone" is a made to order top 40 song from 1987. All of these melodies are original even if they cheerfully borrow from the  bands we grew up listening to. 

"Is Your Love Alive" sounds like Toto stole Def Leppard's musical aura and decided to make a song from it. The hook is relentlessly catchy and captures every great 80's stereotype. "Talk To Me" pilfers from Foreigner's "Waiting For A Girl Like You" mostly on atmospherics and tempo. All of this music is pleasantly derivative of other bands but still retains it's own identity.

"Suddenly" is slightly more pop oriented than most of the other songs, yet again it still retains the overall sound of this wonderful band. "Can't Forget" has a Journey Raised on Radio vibe with a punchy bassline and speaker filling keyboard flashes and those Def Leppard vocals. "In The Name of Love" starts with a long guitar intro that thoughtfully builds to the lyrics. When we get there we are totally ready for this epic song. 

By this point in the album, the band has added some real swagger to their musical footsteps. The hooks seem to get better. The choruses more memorable. I mean, wow! What an album! This is First Night's second album. Their first one was excellent. But the quality of material and musicianship here make "Deep Connection" an early contenter for melodic rock record of 2023. Just outstanding. Thirteen songs that will keep your ears happy and craving another listen. 

Album Rating 9.9
 

Torben Enevoldsen - Transition (Album Review)

Gifted Ax-Man Torben Enevoldsen returns with another kick-ass instrumental guitar rock album. The content is mostly upbeat melodic jams with all kinds of twists and turns. With help from Pete Steincke on Bass and Dennis Hansen on drums. There are progressive and classical influences throughout this 10 track onslaught. There are no skip worthy tracks. 

The opener, "In Orbit" sets the tone for the rest of the material. Composing 10 unique and interesting melodies is not an easy task these days. Yet it all sounds fresh and engaging. "Backslide" is guitar fireworks as the same refrain is revisited multiple times in different ways. The chugging of the rhythm section is a perfect musical backdrop for the guitar expressions of a master painter. "Beyond The Sky" is jazz infused boogie that inclines to higher highs as it progresses. "Fool-Proof" is a lyrical jam that gets guitar nasty as it smears more paint on the canvas. "Out of The Ordinary" is a late night landscape of subdued soloing and fine wine atmospherics. 

"DNA" is the big Deep Purple meets Van Halen opus, riffing and improving to some musical memory of rock dinosaurs feasting on metal scraps from long ago. "DNA" feels like a radio song. "Home" is more subdued and even tranquil. The melody line begs for a lyric or an idea that the listener can grapple with. "Memories" combines a large hook with some persistent fills that all work in tandem. All the influences are there. Classical, jazz and metal. A swirling concoction of six string fury. 

"Bounce Back" is a road rage rocker that finds an open lane and hits the cruise control at 80. "Enough Said" is a culmination of everything with pent up guitar frustration and more twisting, turning and melting of internal soundboard components. A great way to leave the listener wanting more! 

Thankfully Torben has another album called 5.1 that you can rock out to with equal joy and excitement. This is some of the finest instrumental guitar rock on planet earth today. 

Album Rating 9.8

Khymera - Hold Your Ground (Album Review) Frontiers Music Srl

Khymera first began as a melodic rock vehicle for former Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh. The project band began in 2005 and has continued off and on up until this most recent offering. Dennis Ward took over on vocals after Walsh departed the scene. Each one of the albums have had at least a handful of high quality, radio ready melodic rockers. American radio programmers have no interest in this type of music anymore. It's up to the diehard fans to spread the word when a new album drops. 

"Hold Your Ground" is a very focused project that will take the listener back to the 80's rock radio format. Ward's lead vocals are smooth and powerful. The material is as good as any of the prior releases. The first song from this collection "Don't Wait For Love" is a classic with a poweful drum sound and a first listen long lasting big impression. Next is the first single "Firestarter". It glides in loaded with passion and melodrama. There is a side to this music that is somewhat progressive and unpredicable. Michael Klein's guitar work is more gritty than the band's other offerings. The layered vocals, atmospheric choruses and big drum sound are all great workout mechanisms for a good quality stereo system. Veteran keyboardist Eric Ragno is consistently adding the perfect frosting for the Khymera cake. Dennis Ward's bass playing coupled with drummer Michael Kolar give the rythmn section some added punch. 

"Here Me Calling" is part power ballad and part heavier rocker. The twists and turns within the melody make this track and equal to the first single. These are well written songs both lyrically and musically. Klein's guitar solos are eloquent and to the point. Ragno's keyboard intro to "Sail On Forever" adds a hint of prog to a very memorable building hook. Ward's vocals might be his best ever for a Khymera project. It would be nice if these guys took this show on the road! "Our Love Is Killing Me" is a beautiful power ballad with an organic piano sound underneath a soaring Ward who really channels both Steve Perry and Joe Elliot. It's like Def Journey with a hint of Alias or Guiffria. 

"Hear What I'm Saying" rocks out with stellar guitar work that weaves in and out of a passionate vocal. Dennis Ward's higher notes are on par with Paul Stanley in his prime. "Believe In What You Want" feels like an instant hit single, if that is even possible these days. Choppy little guitar hooks and a solid bass line and the ideal chorus about that universal billion downloading idea - believing! "On The Edge" features Ragno's pallette of keyboard sounds and a galloping guitar from Klein. These guys take the melodic rock art form to new heights. Everything is tight and moves along without anything too self indulgent. 

"Could Have Been Us" is another radio caliber song with a cold start followed by a slew of guitar moves. The melody and the story of city hall is a bit of a curve ball lyrically. The background vocals are on point. "Runaway" begins with Ward's naked vocal and Klein's riff work. It evolves into another very unique sounding track that is like punky progressive melodic rock. "Am I Dreaming" rounds out this very impressive collection of songs with the same high quality hook making and songwriting. All of these tunes are FM rock radio bangers and deserve to be heard.

I've listened to all of the Khymera albums and I own two of them and this one is the best out of the bunch. This feels like next level Khymera. This album is a must have for 2023. 

(Album Rating 9.7)