Here it is, the third full-length album from British singer/guitarist/song-writer Tony Mitchell since 2020 – and his fourth solo record over-all. Mitchell recorded one album by his first band Kiss Of The Gypsy back in 1991 but it didn’t do all that much and the band split up in 1993. Since then Mitchell has released records with bands like Kingdom Of The Dead, Boneyard Zombies and Dirty White Boyz before settling for a solo career. Not being the most well-known artist in the world, Mitchell’s solo records (and band albums) has all been stellar efforts, especially Church Of A Restless Soul (2020) and Hot Endless Summer Nights (2022), albums that threw a fine mix of Hard Rock, AOR, Metal and Classic Rock our way which means that high hopes follows when it’s time for his latest release.
Opener “Blue Lightning” starts off with a Springsteen-like piano before it takes off on a juicy stomp and a bouncy beat with some major pop-vibes melodically. There’s a distinct New Jersey era Bon Jovi with some nods towards Jim Steinman’s work involved here with an infectious chorus that brings Night Ranger to mind. It’s catchy, direct and very memorable – a damn good number. “Keep The Love Alive” has a gospel-flirting opening only for it to bring on a 70’s Classic Rock vibe with a nod to Deep Purple on a heavier foundation and a faster pace. It’s big, uplifting and holds a captivating refrain with a big choir involved. Simply superb.
The fat-grooved title track and also the leading single brings on some 80’s sounding Melodic Rock where once again Bon Jovi comes to mind but also Blue Tears. There’s a feelgood vibe and a big summer feel to the song much due to big pop inserts especially in the vocal melody department and the chorus is more or less a big Arena Rock anthem, catchy as can be. Very good. The anthemic “Rockin’ In A Hard Place” comes along with a sleazier vibe on a foot-stomping rhythm. It’s an arena-rocker with its feet in the early 90’s and blends a dirty raunchy outlook with smoother melodies. The chorus holds a direct hook but could be stronger. It’s good but it doesn’t really take off.
The single “Top Of The World” starts out softer and and laid-back and has Mitchell bringing on a Springsteen meets Meat Loaf touch in the piano department. After the first verse the song takes on a more bombastic structure and throws in yet another dose of 80’s Bon Jovi and a slight nod to U2. On top lies a massive refrain, catchy as hell with hooks enough to make a fisherman envious. Magnificent. Latest single “Another Beat Of My Heart” comes with a chest full of AOR and lots of 80’s pop-melodies to go with it. The vocal melodies aims for the heart and hits right away. There are hooks everywhere and the terrific chorus brings on a slight Bryan Adams feel with all the catchiness in the world. Awesome.
Faster in tempo with a rougher edge, the Hard Rock bouncer “Darkness Remains” is a kicking tune that holds some moodier keyboards that blends fine with the in-your-face rock rhythms and straight ahead melodies. This belter could really be a juicy live-opener and the direct chorus is catchy enough to grab a hold. Good one. “This Other Side Of Midnight” keeps the Hard Rock going on a punchy rhythm and raunchy riffage albeit with a darker twist soundwise. It also comes with a smoother keyboard work and slicker pop-hooks in the vocal melodies while the bang-on-target chorus creates a certain hit-vibe. A good raucnhy yet slick rocker perfect for the stage.
Mitchell brings back the big Arena Rock with “Borderline”, an 80’s sounding Melodic Rock stomper with some slick and infectious pop-melodies. It’s a song full of hit-potential and radio-friendly hooks but at the same time it feels a bit too structured for just that purpose and becomes a bit too sugary. It’s not a bad song but I think the Thin Lizzy influenced solo outshines the rest of the song. We’re being treated with a summer-song in “Sunflower Girl”, a fun-loving and feelgood number that brings you colorful cocktails on warm summer evenings. It blends acoustic guitars with clean electric ones, smooth keys and easily embraced melodies and another chorus that’s simply unforgettable. Very good.
It’s power ballad time when “Find A Way” comes around. It’s slow in tempo with some emotional verses with a gorgeous vocal-melody arrangement. The tune holds a huge late 80’s feel and I can see this going on high rotation on MTV back in the day. The chorus is immense but breaks away from the standard power ballad refrain structure with an uplifting Gospel twist which works like a charm. It’s a splendid tune. Mitchell closes the album on a more aggressive twist with the metal-fueled “Phoenix Rising”, an upbeat and fast tracked Hard Rock stomper, hard-edged and ballsy yet still melodic and big on memorable melodies. The Boston-esque keyboard opening contrast brilliantly with the harder edge with the rest of the song and the chorus strikes right where it should. Good one.
It’s easy to state that Mitchell isn’t just a fast worker when it comes to his music but also a creative mind that knows his way around a good song and a sharp hook. He blends styles the way he feels fit and seems to go with the a-good-song-is-a-good-song mentality. It’s also impressing that no matter the style of the song everything comes out a Tony Mitchell tune without any split personality vibes at all. Sure, at times he wears his influences on his sleeves but it never comes around to theft or plagiarism. So his records might not be musically revolutionary but who cares. Tony Mitchell writes killer songs and releases great albums something his three latest albums are sure proof of. Hats off.
8/10
More Tony Mitchell reviews:
Church Of A Restless Soul
Hot Endless Summer Nights
Tracklist:
1. Blue Lightning
2. Keep The Love Alive
3. Radio Heartbeat
4. Rockin’ In A Hard Place
5. Top Of The World
6. Another Beat Of My Heart
7. Darkness Remains
8. This Side Of Midnight
9. Borderline
10. Sunflower Girl
11. Find A Way
12. Phoenix Rising
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