THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Amber Galactic (2017)
Swedish classic rock supergroup THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – featuring members of metal frontrunners Soilwork and Arch Enemy – will release its third studio album, “Amber Galactic”, on May 19 via Nuclear Blast.
The disc was recorded at Handsome Hard Studio in Lund, Sweden, and follows The Night Flight Orchestra’s two previous releases already featured and highly praised by this blog.
Yeah. I love The Night Flight Orchestra.
Forget the member’s day job bands from the modern metal scene, here these musicians do pure classic rock influenced by the late ’70s / early ’80s, both in therms of songwriting, sound and production.
But The Night Flight Orchestra is not just a ‘side project’. Singer Björn Strid states; “As seasoned musicians, we’re taking this project seriously, although we might come across as slightly retro-futuristic at times, there’s no irony involved. It’s just us trying to shape our future into a place where our race is led by female space commanders with pearl necklaces and a quasar sense of gravity.”
It’s a fun concept, and works greatly from the artwork to the music packed inside.
There really is emotion behind these tracks, thanks in part to the talents of Mr. Strid behind the mic and a willing spirit from his musical cohorts to deliver the most authentic classic rock experience 2017.
Whether “Jennie” or midtempo “Josephine” were written about real relationships is a mystery, but the passion with which such love and lust is delivered from the mouth of Bjorn is totally convincing.
Even sadness is catchy on this record, though elsewhere “Gemini” might be the most irresistible tune from The Night Flight Orchestra yet.
The recording moves along at a natural pace, shifting between more articulated pieces and hummable rockers.
The album is front-loaded with galloping opener “Midnight Flyer” and the fist-pumping “Star Of Rio”, while “Something Mysterious” seems taken from an 80s b-movie soundtrack.
Going along well with its spacey aesthetic, the final quarter of the record dives more into prog rock territory, especially dramatic closing number “Saturn In Velvet”.
Fear not though, the album deftly avoids pretentious song lengths and instrumental breakaways without purpose, segueing them instead for riffs and keyboard parts that matter.
I said it at the beginning: I love The Night Flight Orchestra.
“Amber Galactic” is just another fun, entertaining piece of retro / classic rock with melodic rock, FM radio, AOR, disco and many more genres touches. If you are new to the band this this looks weird on paper, you better check these guys.
You’ll be rewarded with a subtly tongue-in-cheek, well-executed classic rock / light proggy influenced extravaganza.
Strid’s vocal falsetto and the keyboard solos are fully present, by the way.
Whether the Soilwork and Arch Enemy founder members of this band planned to begin writing the next Styx, Queen, Boston, etc, record or not, they’ve crafted an album so enjoyable and believable that maybe they are capable of such a feat.
One thing’s for sure, you need to take the night flight to understand the brilliance that is “Amber Galactic”.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Midnight Flyer
02 – Star of Rio
03 – Gemini
04 – Sad State of Affairs
05 – Jennie
06 – Domino
07 – Josephine
08 – Space Whisperer
09 – Something Mysterious
10 – Saturn in Velvet
11 – Just Another Night
Björn “Speed” Strid – Vocals (Soilwork, ex-Coldseed)
David Andersson – Guitars (Mean Streak, Soilwork)
Richard Larsson – Keyboards
Sharlee D’Angelo – Bass (Mercyful Fate)
Jonas Källsbäck – Drums (Mean Streak, ex-Axia)
Pre Order:
shop.nuclearblast.com/en/products/sound/cd/cd/the-night-flight-orchestra-amber-galactic.html
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