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Nitrate: Open Wide
Nitrate: Open Wide
Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0
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AOR Heaven
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 19.06.2019 | Released: 21.06.2019
Created by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nick Hogg, Nitrate hit the ground running with their popular and well-received 2018 album, Realworld. Not wishing to rest on his laurels, Hogg and company have quickly returned with their second long player Open Wide. The album arrives with a new lead guitar player, Marcus Thurston (Vega), and new vocalist, Philip Lindstrand (Find Me, East Temple Avenue, Strong).
Nick Hogg
The Nitrate musical style is simple to describe: Eighties melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. As I've stated so often in the past, the musical suspects are well-known: twin guitar harmony, ripping solos, strong groove from a steady rhythm section, clean clear vocals with all things wrapped up in memorable melody and harmony, and then topped with catchy refrains. Like I said, you know the drill. Hogg and company deliver the goods with both skill and enthusiasm.
As for the songs, basically, if you can't find something to enjoy across this album, you're likely due for some rock n roll CPR. Simply catchy and endearing AOR melodic hard rock arrive with You Want It You Got It, Heart Go Wild, Bad Girls, and the brisk Never Surrender. Rising arena rockers come with Only A Heartache Away and guitar soaring I Don't Want To Live. With all these fine rockers, I almost didn't expect a ballad. But In The Night delivers with strong vocal harmony and the quintessential stirring guitar solo. Conversely, to be honest, I found the later song Shot In The Dark a bit dry and slow moving. But no worries. Nitrate's Open Wide is a fine album of well-crafted and quite entertaining AOR melodic hard rock. Fans of the genre will want this album. Easily recommended.
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Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
The Bottom Line
Nitrate's Open Wide is a fine album of well-crafted and quite entertaining AOR melodic hard rock. Fans of the genre will want this album. Easily recommended.
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