For a guy like me who only knew the band Vega by name a few years ago, the band’s two latest efforts – Who We Are (2016) and Only Human (2018) – were both very pleasant surprises. This British melodic Hard Rock band do work in a genre I usually appreciate which makes it even more weird that I had never checked them out before considering the fact that they had released three records prior to those – Kiss Of Life (2010), What The Hell (2013) and Stereo Messiah (2014). Despite the fact that I really dug the two mentioned albums, I shamefully admit that I still haven’t gotten around to checking those first albums out, something I will make sure to do in the near future. This means that I will sink my teeth into their brand new album with some big expectations in the back-water – hopefully, this album will at least equal their last two records in quality.
Vega kicks off the album with “Blind”, an uptempo, bouncy and quite raunchy rocker. Vega’s brand of Melodic Rock is certainly there but this one’s is way more carried on a base of Hard Rock than before. It’s a straight-forward, in-your-face rocker that’s here to kick up some dust. That said, it never floored me at all but it’s an ok song and a really good opener that feels more of a statement that Vega is a Rock band that wants to go outside the AOR/Melodic Rock box. Second single “(I Don’t Need) Perfection” holds some laid-back arranged verses albeit on pretty steady ground. However, the tune gets going in a more uptempo pace as it goes along and holds a quite chunky refrain with enough catchiness to make you stick around for more. Stylewise, it’s the Vega we all know here but slightly crunchier.
The leading single, which is also the album’s title-track, is a punchy stomper that has more in common with Classic Rock than the Melodic Rock we’re used from the band. Whereas the rhythm is of the punchier kind, the tune also holds a slight Arena Rock touch with some Def Leppard touches and a middle-eight that takes a dive into gospel-influences. With memorable melodies, lots of hooks and a hot damn catchy albeit not very Pop chorus makes the tune a winner. Great stuff. With a gritty and crunchy guitar, “Man On A Mission” takes off and continues in the Classic Rock path of the title-track. The intense groove and the stripped nature of the tunes gives the tune a meaty live-feel which also is helped by the pounding rhythm of the track. The fact that it brings on a slight modern Hard Rock vibe is something I can let slide as the tunes is bloody awesome.
Third teaser “Don’t Fool Yourself” is upbeat, punchy and straight-forward yet very melodic with an infectious hook and a sticky chorus. This stompy Melodic Rock number is a lot closer to the way we’re used to hear Vega – and I guess it’ll please lots of the more conservative fans of the band. The almost funky part of the rhythm makes for a good live-feel as well – good one. “Consequence Of Having A Heart” is slightly different. The song holds a synth-rock touch with a funky bass-line, a Classic Rock groove and is driven by lots of keyboards. The verses are a bit more laid-back but when the chorus shows up, the song turns more upbeat. It’s pretty much a Pop song in disguise, a bit darker and mellow but also quite memorable and the refrain does its job with digging itself into your brain without mercy. It might not be the album’s finest moment but it works.
“This One’s For You” also takes us on a walk down memory lane to when music was fun – and at times glossy, as this song also hints at – and the pop-influences was an initial part of Hard Rock. Yes, this one says hello to 1988 and even though we get some gritty guitars and a punchy beat, this one’s for us who believes that Bon Jovi never recorded a better album than New Jersey. It’s an uptempo, straight-forward and anthemic Stadium Rocker, quite powerful with a bang-on-target refrain that would have shipped this album platinum back in the day. Killer! “Battles Ain’t A War” is a laid-back and mellow but upbeat pop-rock tune that glimpses at balladry. The guitar solo is a bit more crunchy but all in all, it’s a sullen number with a contagious chorus that sticks without going for a hit-single vibe. Very good.
“Save Me From Myself” is probably the closest we get to the “old” Vega on this record. It’s a joyous and bouncy Melodic Rock stomper, uptempo and straight-forward. It holds a solid rhythm with a darker outlook, big pop-laden melodies, Hard Rock raunchy guitar solos and a striking chorus that hits the spot immediately. Good one. Latest single “How We Live” is also in the vein of older Vega, Melodic Rock in uptempo with a slightly more melancholic melody arrangement. It’s a feel-good, 80’s laden pop-rocker with an uplifting groove and an infectious main-melody and a direct and effective chorus. Very good. The album closes with “Done With Me”, an energetic rocker that’s carried on a Hard Rock foundation – straight-up and raunchy – and holds a big Melodic Rock outlook when it comes to melodies and hooks and is not a far cry from the stuff H.E.A.T has provided us with on their last album. It contains chunky guitars and a heavier take on Vega’s Rock but it’s also very pop-flirtatious which blends in the finest of ways.
All in all, Vega has treated us with another portion of distinct and effective Melodic Rock albeit this time, they have chosen to takes us on a journey outside their comfort zone on many tracks. Quality-wise, the album might take a few spins to get into and in truth, I find both their previous albums stronger but that’s not to say they have failed with this one. On the other side of the coin, this might be a real grower and come off as their best in a year or so from now. Style-wise, the album is a heavier, raunchier and grittier effort than what we’re used to and you get the feeling they’re trying to phase out their typical Melodic Rock/AOR brand. That said, it’s still impossible to not file this under Melodic Rock, even if it’s of a heavier kind – and it needs to be said that Vega hasn’t lost any of their identity because of the musical changes. If you’re a Vega-fan, you can buy this record calmly and if you’re not – well, this might just be the perfect record to give them a shot.
7/10
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Tracklist:
1. Blind
2. (I Don’t Need) Perfection
3. Grit Your Teeth
4. Man On A Mission
5. Don’t Fool Yourself
6. Consequence Of Having A Heart
7. This One’s For You
8. Battles Ain’t A War
9. Save Me From Myself
10. How We Live
11. Done With Me
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