Picture this: It's 1984 and you are cruising down the the coast of Miami in your 1986 Camaro Iroc Z with the T top open. Suddenly, a band bursts onto the FM radio that has you jamming all through the neon soaked night. This is exactly how Night Flight Orchestra's music makes me feel anytime I pop one of their albums in. If you are unfamiliar, I have talked about this band before and I honestly haven't stopped loving them. Made up of members of Soilwork and Arch Enemy, this band writes some of the catchiest AOR that never existed in the 1980's. Simply put they do the decade justice. However, with this new album, the band don't get stale but instead stay consistent, piling on even more synthesizers and polish for this album to realize the mid 80's full on.
The band always opens with a straight up rocker and this album is no exception. "Servants of the Air" opens the album with power and hooks galore. The chorus is definitely a lot more atmospheric with the keyboards on full blast. This album definitely features the synthesizers a lot heavier which definitely works considering the more pop flavor the band show off in songs like the insanely catchy "Divinyls" and the incredible "Transmissions". While most of their releases have more of a mesh of 70s and 80s inluences, this album is heavily staked in the 1980's. It isn't a huge change from their established sound but it feels a bit more shimmery and poppy. While this may put some fans off, I feel it works for them very well. There are definitely some short catchy tracks like the upbeat "This Boy's Last Summer" and "Taurus" respectively. The title track features some really nice prominent backing vocals from the Airline Anna's that creates again a great atmosphere to the music these guys have pretty much perfected at this point. "If Tonight is Our Only Chance" is another absolutely catchy and memorable song. Hell, if I am honest this album has hooks in just about every song. This album definitely flows a bit better than "Sometimes the World Ain't Enough". Even with slower songs like the Genesis inspired "Curves" or "Golden Swansdown", the album still feels fully alive and fun throughout. "Carmencita Seven" is definitely one of the more complex written songs on the album and shows just how great these guys craft songs, if it wasn't noticeable already. The album ends with the epic "Dead Of Winter" putting a cap on yet another journey back into the heyday of melodic rock music.
Overall, while "Amber Galactic" will always remain as my favorite NOF album, this album is definitely still extremely strong which is impressive five albums in. Night Flight Orchestra has built on the more pop aspect of their sound without the songs becoming dull or repetitive. The love crafted throughout this release still shows fresh ideas and a band that is having fun with a love letter to a bygone era. If you want fun vintage pop laced AOR, Night Flight Orchestra are still the kings in the modern day!
8/10
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