ATLANTIS DRIVE – Atlantis Drive (2024) *HQ*
New combo ATLANTIS DRIVE will release their debut album “Atlantis Drive” on Pride & Joy Music next 14th of June. Composer and guitar player Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream, Winterland) had a very clear goal with this band / album: to take up the sound of the keyboard-orientated melodic hard rock of the Eighties with a slightly nostalgic glamour and transport it into the modern era.
To achieve this, a skilled keyboard player had to be found. Markus quickly found the perfect congenial partner in Jorris Guilbaud from France (Heart Line, Devoid) and he came up with some really impressive synth arrangements, sounds and melodies.
Experienced Markus Kullmann (Glenn Hughes, Voodoo Circle) is on drums. Last but not least, vocal legend Mark Boals is featured on (very impressive!) lead vocals. Mark has written the lyrics for the 10 songs and has conjured up ultra-melodic vocal lines and catchy choruses.
Beyond short-lived trends, Atlantis Drive stylistically celebrates the spirit of the 80s with thick keyboards full of feeling, groovy guitar riffs, filigree solos, catchy choruses and bombastic vocal arrangements.
Mark Boals hasn’t been heard in such a melodic context for a long time and those who know him mainly from neoclassical bands and projects will be very positively surprised by the incredibly catchy hooklines and choruses that he conjures out of the hat with Atlantis Drive.
The album features ten songs, and from the ‘off’ the sheer quality shines through. This is music that focuses on songs with big ‘hooks’ and equally big and memorable choruses.
Kicking off with the excellent ‘Way Back When’, here is a band in full flight, the song has a surging verse and a soaring chorus, so is everything that’s good about Melodic Rock. Thus, the scene is set for this fine album. I would also particularly draw your, attention to the uplifting ‘Living For The Moment’- which again has a fabulous verse and even better chorus.
‘Brand New Start’ makes for a nice change of pace, being mainly acoustic, and with a nice Hammond organ accompaniment – and is extremely tasteful. ‘Time’ is another very stylish number, being absolutely classic Melodic Rock, mid-paced and beautifully constructed. Finally, I would recommend to you the epic album closer ‘Heroes’, which clocks in at eight and a half minutes, and is nothing short of stunning. It is a powerful and emotively uplifting song, that is the perfect way to close the album.
If you are looking for a quality melodic rock album to invest in, then ‘Atlantis Drive’ should be high on your shopping list, and comes very highly recommended
01 – Way Back When
02 – Medusa Smile
03 – Living For The Moment
04 – Brand New Start
05 – United
06 – Curtain Falls
07 – Faith
08 – Time
09 – Farewell To A Friend
10 – Heroes
Mark Boals (vocals)
Markus Pfeffer (guitar)
Markus Kullmann (drums)
Jorris Guilbaud (keys, synths)
Pre order:
shop.season-of-mist.com/atlantis-drive-atlantis-drive-cd
