YOUTHEX – Star-Crossed (2023)
Formed in 2018, YOUTHEX is an ’80s inspired young hard rock / glam metal hailing from Odessa, Ukraine. Not an easy place in the world to play rock n’ roll nowadays, but the guys stand still and keep rockin’. The band already released an EP and a full album under the name WILD TRIBE touring all over Europe, but as they wasn’t comfortable with it switched to YOUTHEX.
Now under the YOUTHEX banner the band is releasing the new album ”Star-Crossed”, where they perfected the brand of ’80s sound they love: Californian-style hard rock, glam metal, hair metal, and a touch of AOR. These are you dudes but they know their game: these songs rock hard with melody, very well composed, executed and produced.
Songs like the swaggerin’ ‘Make It Louder’, the layered ‘Miles Away’ (including cool keys), the AORish ballad ‘Miles Away’ showcase YOUTHEX’s quality.
‘Barbara’ adds a melodic rock feel to the proceedings, ‘Desperation Fire’ is anthemic with a 1987 vibe both in riffs & chorus, while ‘Roulette’ mixes a bit a sleazy from LA.
On eof the best cuts, ‘Blind Tango’, begins with captivating drum beats, an energetic guitar arrangement and all this before Youthex unleash lively vocals, all of this comes together to create a beast of a track. The guitar solo towards the end of the song is really good, those riffs are something else.
Other interesting track is ‘On the Edge of a Knife’. The song was inspired by russian-Ukrainian war 2022. It’s dedicated to every soldier far away from home, to each mother/wife/friend waiting him to come back alive from the battlefield. The song is about guardian angels risking with their own lives. A classic sounding AOR / Melodic rock ’80s tune.
Despite coming from a conflict land, YOUTHEX’s music doesn’t know about barriers. ”Star-Crossed” will surprise many for its quality, a self managed production very well rounded, and packing really strong songs.
Highly Recommended
02 – Two Ways to Go
03 – Miles Away
04 – Barbara
05 – Eden’s Apple
06 – Desperation Fire
07 – Roulette
08 – On the Edge of a Knife
09 – Blind Tango
10 – Z for Zombie
Chieph Quickstring (Vocals / Guitar)
Alex Kila (Drums)
Dmytro Andriy, Sara (Bass)
Kaya (Keys, Synths)
BUY
www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5LMJS3C
