AOR Heaven [Release date 30.07.21]
Nitrate are back with album number three and it is all change in the line-up. Nick Hogg remains joined by a new vocalist, Art Nation’s Alexander Strandell, Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, backing vocals) and lead guitarist Dario Nikzad (Hell To Pay).
The other big change is the songwriting, where Nick has hooked up with Vega’s Tom & James Martin & Mikey Wilson (Kimber) to produce an album that has been heavily influenced by Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’. Tom Martin also played all the rhythm guitars and James Martin added keyboards.
Opener ‘Danger Zone’ sets the tone for the album being a song that is steeped in an 80s rock sound and could easily have featured on a hit movie soundtrack back in the day. The Def Leppard sound comes through loud and clear on ‘You Think You’ve Got It’, especially on the guitar breaks and backing vocals. More Def Leppard approved fun to be had on ‘Addicted’ and ‘Lay Down Your Arms’, the latter a full on 80s power ballad treat.
Alexander Strandell gives an emotive filled vocal performance on ‘Why Can’t You Feel My Love’, recalling the excellent ‘Love Amongst The Cannibals’ album by Starship. Whilst ‘Take Me Back’ is one of those good time tunes that recall past loves. Any one of a number of songs on here that could grace daytime radio, if only in a parallel universe where rock was not restricted to specialist radio.
Nitrate keep on evolving, keeping their core melodic rock sound, however, on this album they have set the Def Leppard influence to ten. Hopefully this line-up can work together again as Strandell suits the music to a tee and there is a strong songwriting partnership by adding in the Martin brothers and Mikey Wilson. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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