AFTER HOURS – Against The Grain [full retail]

After the ’80s classic album from AFTER HOURS recently presented here, one of you asked for the band’s comeback CD “Against The Grain“, not easy to find in good sound quality.
Just a little under a quarter of a century, AFTER HOURS reformed with most its original members, and recorded this album for AOR Heaven Records.

The AFTER HOURS story goes all the way back to 1987, and after their excellent debut one year after things started to really build for them, with European tours, appearances on German TV and a sponsorship deal with Adidas.
However keyboard player Rick Young soon left the band, being replaced by ex Michael Schenker man Andy Nye, but with record labels dragging the band round the world to record album number two AFTER HOURS basically disintegrated, although that second release, self-titled, did see the light of day in 1992.

Fast forward 2008, original members Martin Walls, Tim Payne and John Francis decided to re-live AFTER HOURS, after agreeing to write and record a song for old time’s sake, it seemed after recording the song it unearthed a new passion in each of them, they wanted to write and record a new album which came from their heart and souls, with no interference from producers, record companies and management.
And so the task of writing and then recording the new ideas started.
They invited old friend’s Chris Pope on drums and Sean McMenemy on keyboards / guitar to help, the new AFTER HOURS was born, and the result is “Against The Grain”.

As with the two previous albums, the unmistakeable voice of Francis mixed with the guitars of Payne and the foundations of Martin Wall’s bass are the basis of something so special that I honestly cannot stop becoming teary eyed over this album which mixes the lyrical content between social commentary on the world today, and the AOR stable of love-torn rockers and ballads.

So what makes “Against The Grain” so special? Well choruses to-die-for is a good start, then add to that superb interplay between guitars & keyboards, and an unfussy but sharp rhythm section.
The icing on the cake though is the stunning vocal performance of John Francis who has a lived in, but seductive tone that is amazingly versatile and put simply, is a joy to listen to. Style wise Francis is refreshingly hard to tie down, but at varying times throughout this album everyone from Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep) and Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt / Quiet Riot) to Kip Winger and even Eric Clapton. If that sounds like a strange mix, then don’t worry, it works like a dream!

Basically if you have a soft spot for classy AOR and Melodic Rock, then AFTER HOURS are capable of serving you up some delights, with “Stand Up”, “Against The Grain” and “Let It Go” using equal measures of tight riffs, glossy backing vocals and driving keyboards to create some classy, punchy uptempo melodious rock.
“Turn Up Your Radio” is a fantastic slab of pure AOR bliss – okay, the lyrics are cheesy but you can tell that it’s heartfelt and to me that is the difference between a good song and a great song, and this is great.

Francis is immense on all of these tracks and is easily matched by the rest of band tight performances, also shining on the slower, yet equally memorable “I Need Your Love” and the bluesy “I Want Yesterday”.
“Eleventh Hour”, as its title suggests adds a more mystical air to proceedings and is amongst the strongest moments on what is a universally impressive album, and the acoustic version of the same song that closes the album is superb as well.

“Against The Grain” is a delightful return by one of the iconic bands from the great British AOR scene from the late ’80s. For a variety of reasons there are many talented AOR acts from the UK that never really got the acclaim they deserved (Dare or Strangeways to name just two) and you can add AFTER HOURS to that list, but true fans of the genre know when quality arise.
Vocalist John Francis still have his velvety pipes in true form and his partner Tim Payne delivers a remarkable job on the guitars and the musical direction. Good production and good songs, but the best part of it is that AFTER HOURS has been loyal to his tradition, making an AOR album in the way it should be made.
Highly Recommended

01 – Stand Up
02 – Turn On Your Radio
03 – Eleventh Hour
04 – Against The Grain
05 – Angel
06 – When You’re Around
07 – Hold On
08 – Let It Go
09 – I Want Yesterday
10 – I Need Your Love
11 – Eleventh Hour (acoustic) [hidden track]

John Francis : Vocals
Tim Payne : Lead Guitar
Martin Walls : Bass
Sean McMenemy : Keyboards, Guitars
Chris Pope : Drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Grain-After-Hours/dp/B004MASIC6
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