OUTLASTED – Into The Night [Limited Edition +2] (2016)

“Into The Night”, the debut album from Norwegian AOR / melodic rock act OUTLASTED, easily will be ranked among the best of the year. This “Into The Night Limited Edition” includes 2 excellent bonus tracks.
Outlasted is without a doubt a more than welcomed new outfit to the genre but certainly not novice in the art of crafting delicious melodies. Skillfully produced by guitarist Terje Fløyli and expertly mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), this young band’s debut from the new breed of Scandinavian melodic rock picks up the mantle of classic acts and wears it with distinction.

A five-piece band based in Norway, Outlasted’s harmonic and melodic lineup comprises Glenn Wikran on vocals, Terje Fløyli on guitars, and Odd-Børge Hansen at the piano and keyboards. On the rhythmic side of its tracks are Aleksander Schjølberg holding down the bass, and drummer Rune Erling Pedersen who provides the percussive pyrotechnics of this exciting new ensemble that features great hooks, catchy choruses, and full background harmonies provided by all band members.

First track “Someone Like You” clearly showcases the band penchant for melodic riffs, layers of keys, crystal-clear vocals, and an highly harmonized choruses. All these pieces together complete a cheerful musical puzzle.

“Ghost Of Love” is much more AOR with soaring verses and heavenly keyboards, then the beautiful ‘Loving You Ain’t Easy’ bring to mind ’80s Stage Doll’s class & elegance.
Some poppy melodic rock arrives with ‘Live For Today’, we have a pretty ‘Americanized’ tune in ‘I Want You To Know (think Nelson), while the pumping ‘Living A Lie’ is pure Scandivavian melodic rock.

Right after these tracks we come across “Sacrifice”, a tune that will win you over from its very first few notes. Amazingly rhythmic and melodic song.
‘Anything For You’ is the album’s ballad with a lovely main melody, then ‘Writing On The Wall’ has some midtempo Toto on it, before album closer ‘Unbroken’ mix vintage keys with organic guitars for good effect.

High quality, ‘elegant’ songs & sounds is what you’ll find on Outlasted’s debut “Into The Night”. Think Stage Dolls / Nelson / State Of Salazar and you get the picture.
When you are able to compose such delicate songs and record them with these pristine attributes like Outlasted did here, means this is a solid project and a band with lots of greater things to come.
Fans of distinguished Scandinavian AOR / Melodic Rock need to check this one.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Someone Like You
02 – Ghost Of Love
03 – Loving You Ain’t Easy
04 – Live For Today
05 – I Want You To Know
06 – Living A Lie
07 – Sacrifice
08 – Anything For You
09 – Writing On The Wall
10 – Unbroken
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Nothing Left To Say
12 – Back To You

Glenn Wikran – Vocals
Terje Fløyli – Guitars
Odd-Børge Hansen – Piano & keyboards
Aleksander Schjølberg – Bass
Rune Erling Pedersen – Drums
additional musicians:
Rune Bryn: Drums on All Tracks
Rickard Johannesson: Bass
Kjetil Andreassen: Acoustic Guitar on Track 3
Lasse Ingebrigtsen: Backing Vocals
Ronny Wikmark: additional Keyboards

Mastered By Harry Hess At Hbomb Mastering, Canada

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