Whilst being
kept firmly out of the mainstream, British melodic hard rock is in a state of
great health. The number of new albums being released is increasing and younger
bands are breaking through onto the scene. Vega are at the forefront of this
new rise.
Opening with
an eerie, circus-esque intro, not entirely in keeping with the rest of the
album, Vega really kick in with the second track “White Knuckle.” This track is
a lot more melodic than lots of their earlier work, moving slightly away from
the harder-edged sound, with soaring vocals and thick keyboard harmonies. The
chorus however is a belter, and definitely sets the tone for the rest of the
album. Full of belting tracks, and heavy, melodic riffs, Vega are coming into
their own, creating a loud, brash sound which retains all the big, crunchy
riffs, but extends the melodic approach of the band. Instrumentally, the band
is tight, as musical complexity is not at the forefront of this band’s mind,
which means that the parts are kept stripped down and basic, any solos are kept
short and tasteful. Rather the main focus is on the quality of the songs, all
of which are big and aimed at keeping an audience on their feet.
Overall this
album contains a few gems of songs (“White Knuckle” being a particular
favourite), however there is little variety in the sound, which gives the album
a fairly one-dimensional feel. But it’s pure rock and roll nonetheless.
7/10
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