ALIEN – Into The Future [Japan Edition +1] (2020)

One of the greatest Scandinavian bands from the late ’80s – ALIEN – are back with a new album: ”Into The Future”, to be released in advance today in Japan with a bonus track.
Alien’s return with their original line up was one of the stories of the early 2010’s. They followed up two stunning Firefest shows, where Jim Jidhed’s golden voice in particular was a revelation, with a comeback album ‘Eternity’, but then nothing for the last six years.
Their latest return sees some change in the camp with the quintet back down to three original members, and a self-confessed heavier, more guitar-based hard rocking sound.

With EUROPE having successfully reinvented themselves years ago into a hard rock flare and bands like ECLIPSE managing to peddle a heavier sound without losing the melody, it seems a natural move for ALIEN turning heavier.
This is clear since the opening song ‘You Still Burn’, close to the spirit of Glenn Hughes’ heavier moments, ‘Night of Fire’ is an attempt to follow in the footsteps of GARY MOORE, DARE, or TEN at emulating a Lizzy-like celtic romp, then ‘War Scars’ is even heavier.

However track 4 ‘Time is Right’ is more traditional ALIEN with a keyboard intro and big backing vocals on the chorus, and ‘What Are We Fighting For’ an upbeat number, with a groove and a hypnotic riff underpinned by some retro sounding Hammond organ.
‘Into the Future’ has some very Blackmore-esque guitar work from Tony, but I am not sure Jim’s voice fits this type of song.

But the latter part of the album puts the heavier stylings cast aside. ‘Freedom Wind’ and ‘Really Wheeling It’ are good examples of where they successfully marry the melodies that marked their old style to a tougher approach.
‘Fallin Way Down’ and ‘In Her Eyes’ are even better. The former showcases Jim’s Perry-esque tendencies and the latter has the best hooks on the album, before ‘Children’ ends the album in original fashion, a sparse ballad with an epic solo.

Old-school ALIEN fans will be surprised by “Into The Future” sound, at least the half of the album, hard rocking-groovy and pretty heavy. On the other hand, the other half retain the band’s trademark melody.
ALIEN is indeed moving ‘into the future’ here, solid material and performances varied in style and approach.
Highly Recommended

01. You Still Burn
02. Night Of Fire
03. War Scars
04. Time Is Right
05. What Are We Fighting For
06. Into The Future
07. Freedom Wind
08. Really Wheeling It
09. Fallin Way Down
10. In Her Eyes
11. Children
12. Something’s Wrong (Japan Bonus Track)

Jim Jidhed – vocals
Tony Borg – guitars, bass
Toby Tarrach – drums

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www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-11587