Released by: Independent
Release Date: November 18th, 2022
Genre: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock
Links: https://edwardbox.com/
Line Up:
Ian Humphrey: Vocals
Edward Box: Guitar And Vocals
Neil Lough: Bass
Mick Robson: Drums
Tracklist:
1. All You See
2. Rush
3. Damage Is Done
4. Face In The Crowd
5. One More Day
6. Another War
7. If You Could See Me Now
8. Season Of Denial
9. Barricades
10. The Circle Turning
SENSATIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a huge fan of the 80s/90s AOR/Melodic Rock, but since the turn of the decade it rarely happens that I am blown away, but 130R nails it 100.000%, The band is playing the catchy hook-laden Arena-AOR/Melodic (Hard) Rock like it was done in the late 80s/early 80s in especially the USA by bands like TYKETTO, FIREHOUSE, ICON, RED DAWN, JADED HEART, SLYBOYZ, KNOW ILLUSION, NELSON, and countless others, so I think the fans of this sound will understand what this is all about. They destroy all the FRONTIERS RECORDS wanna-be classic retro melodic hard rock bands out there.
130R is the real deal and their debut album is a contender for album of the year 2023! The band is coming out of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, and features guitarist/vocalist Edward Box (VENDETTA/solo recordings), bassist Neil Lough (SWAPPERS ELEVEN, EDWARD BOX), drummer Mick Robson and vocalist Ian Humphrey. 10 songs are included in the total, and from start, to finish this is AOR/Melodic Rock heaven! Opener All You See is a superb catchy uptempo melodic rocker with a damn catchy chorus, while the following Rush is even better, as this is prime time the late 80s/early 90s midtempo Melodic Rock like the very first TYKETTO classic Don’t Come Easy. Ian is an unbelievable singer, and perhaps one of the finest singers I have heard in the past 25 years in the AOR/Melodic Rock genre! His voice is close to DANNY VAUGHN, with a bit of JIMI JAMISON (SURVIVOR circa Too Hot To Sleep era) here and there. Damage Is Done follows in a similar setting, yet a bit heavier, but featuring a brilliant hook like the classic LILLIAN AXE days, and let’s not forget the excellent melodic soaring guitar solo that is also present.
Face In The Crowd has a cool 80s guitar riff, and is once again a big anthemic midtempo melodic rocker with catchy hooks and a super strong vocal line during the lovely chorus. One More Day is perhaps the best uptempo AOR/Melodic Rock of 2023! This incredible song has got it all, which is picture-perfect vocals, hooks, guitar solos, and a killer chorus! Next track Another War is a tough mid-tempo melodic rocker in the SURVIVOR ‘Too Hot To Sleep’ style. If You Could See Me Now is another sensational uptempo Melodic Rocker with a killer chorus and like every song amazing vocals and guitarwork out of the classic Rock Book! Season Of Denial is a vocal duet between Neil and Edward, and it’s a lovely epic semi AOR Melodic Rockballad that once again reminds me of a cross between TYKETTO’s debut Don’t Come Easy, SURVIVOR’s Too Hot To Sleep and RED DAWN’s Never Say Surrender. Up next is Barricades, which is the first slightly weaker song, but still is a nice midtempo heavy rocker, while The Circle Turning closes the album in a lovely midtempo melodic rock direction a la ROXUS, TOUR DE FORCE, RED DAWN, SURVIVOR circa Too Hot To Sleep and TYKETTO.
What more can I say about this album than the fact that you need to save all your money for this 130R CD, just like you did last year with NESTOR’s CD in 2021? Now that would be a nice combination for a European tour, these 2 new giants in AOR/Melodic Rock, wouldn’t it? Hopefully, it will be released on vinyl soon, because this one truly deserves to be played loud and proud on the record player!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 9/10
About Author
- Super AOR Melodic Rock
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