A-HA – Cast In Steel (2015)

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As big fans of ’80s culture on this blog is featured all music related to the era, obviously focused on Rock. But also some other genres, trying to present all releases that worth a listen and discarding many (a higher percentage) which not.
In this case, we are posting the new A-HA album (to be released tomorrow) “Cast In Steel” just to warn you: avoid it like a plague.

A-HA composed some of the best synth-pop music ever created. In fact, even metal bands have covered their songs, and speaking about this genre, it’s one of the few respected by metalheads. But this was many years ago…
The band, which staged a huge retirement tour with concerts all over the world in 2010 only to get together again over the past few years, has recorded this new album “Cast In Steel”.
After the first listen, we think they should have stayed retired (with all the glory intact).

Simply put – and despite the promising title – “Cast In Steel” is boring, lifeless, uninspired.
If you’re going to make a comeback, do it well, pack at least a half of decent songs. This does not happens here.
Only “She’s Humming a Tune”, “The Wake” and specially “Forest Fire” captures some of the quality of A-Ha’s past, but even all feel like second-hand material.
We have tested the ‘Deluxe Edition’ which comes with a second disc including bonuses and remixes: all absolutely forgettable.

Again; if we consider a new release not worth to check, simply is not featured here.
But in the case of major bands like A-HA, it is fair to spread the warning: not recommended at all.

01 – Cast In Steel
02 – Under the Makeup
03 – The Wake
04 – Forest Fire
05 – Objects In the Mirror
06 – Door Ajar
07 – Living At the End of the World
08 – Mythomania
09 – She’s Humming a Tune
10 – Shadow Endeavors
11 – Giving Up the Ghost
12 – Goodbye Thompson

Morten Harket – vocals
Magne Furuholmen – keyboards
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy – guitars

Available here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Cast-In-Steel-A-Ha/dp/B0128Y8YLM/
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