Released by: Fast Train Union
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Hard Rock
Links: https://fasttrainunion.hearnow.com/analog-outliers
Tracklist:
01. Darkness
02. No Illusions
03. Outliers
04. World Is Burning
05. The Moment
06. Calling Your Name
07. Intro / Falling Down
08. Falling Down
09. When You’re Lonely
10. Union
11. Stand
12. Closer To The Edge
13. Third Rail
14. It’s Not a Game
The Canadian band FAST TRAIN UNION has been active for quite a while now, and in the past we reviewed some of their releases. They were formed back in 2006 and their first 2 releases date back to the late 2000s and early 2010s, so this new album Analog Outliers is actually their comeback album since it’s their 3rd so far. Their line up consists of John Wetherilt/lead guitar and background vocals, Paul DeMarinis/drums, Al Fitzgerald/ lead guitar and background vocals, Michael Ashton Wetherilt/bass and Sean Potvin/lead vocals, and “collectively in past incarnations members of FAST TRAIN UNION have opened for legendary acts like EXCITER, ALIAS, TROOPER, RIK EMMETT, etc.”.
Anyway, this new album of them is a superb sounding record that sounds like a classic from the late 80s/early 90s when countless melodic hardrock albums were released on major labels in the USA and Canada. The CD version contains 14 songs, and from start to finish it sounds sensational. Opener Darkness is a killer tune, including a superb 80s guitar riff (SCORPIONS/DOKKEN style), lovely vocalwork and a memorable chorus. This is picture perfect uptempo 80s orientated Northern American Melodic Hardrock a la HEAVENS EDGE, DOKKEN, early FIREHOUSE, KNOW ILLUSION, HURRICANE, etc. etc. Following No Illusions has some dut-dut 80s AOR keys added, and this song is also waving the flag for 80s uptempo catchy hookladen melodic hardrock in the style of the aforementioned bands. SEAN POTVIN is an amazing lead singer with a killer high octave range, so he is basically the 80s singer you want to have in your band!
If the very first FIREHOUSE album, SLYBOYZ and 80s STRYPER are your favorite kinda melodic hardrockbands, then you absolutely need to grab a copy of the new album of FAST TRAIN UNION, because this completely fills your appetite. The album continues with Outliers, which is pure STRYPERish melodic hardrock, and it seems like the whole CD is loaded with killer tunes, of which other highlights include superb uptempo melodic hardrocksongs such as World Is Burning (very catchy and with a killer guitarsolo), Falling Down (midtempo melodic hardrock masterpiece, reminding me of THE WORKS/WALL OF SILENCE, remember them?), When You’re Lonely (yet another killer classic 80s melodic rock chorus a la SANTERS), Stand (a CD bonustrack) and closing track It’s Not A Game.
I can honestly say that FAST TRAIN UNION has released their finest effort so far with this superb kick-ass new album Analog Outliers, which is basically the dream for any fan of classic 80s authentic analog Northern American Melodic Hardrock!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 9/10
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