There are no real changes in store for Spain hard rockers, or for listeners, on their fourth album, third for Lion Music, Changes. What remains the same is solid European melodic hard rock propelled by Robert Rodrigo's fine guitar work.
Perhaps Airless should have named the album, Stay the Course. There's the basic foundation of hard rock merging with it's AOR cousin for catchy melodies and big hooks bold enough for Eighties arena play. Actually, much of the material on Changes feels edgier, heavier. Songs like Latest Prophecy, Upstream, Start Again, and Changes burn it up.
Even the quasi-ballads Reach For You and Come Back Home weigh in on the hard rock side of things. Perhaps something is different after all. One notable addition is some bright keyboard work at the start of I Don't Care and Rescue Me. Then there's political statement of Gone Too Far found in almost power metal wrapper. Throughout Rodrigo displays his classic rock guitar style. In the end, Changes is Airless being Airless, a crew of very talented musicians creating consistently good European melodic hard rock. Recommended.
Changes is Airless being Airless, a crew of very talented musicians creating consistently good European melodic hard rock.
Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]