THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vega

VEGA – Anarchy And Unity

May 7, 2022 /

Since the collapse of most of the melodic labels in Europe, it seems as though Frontiers have now cornered the market with only Escape Music who is left of the originals. On this, their latest release, it’s nice to see they wrote all of the songs this time – I think on the last album outside writers had been brought in. My only gripe with this album is that the mix sounds very quiet and I have to really crank it.

If you’re new to Vega, they write super catchy hard rock belters. Beautiful Lie kicks things off nicely with a great groove and a super catchy hook. Sooner Or Later is even better with a killer groove and melody. End Of The Fade starts with a slow brooding vibe, and then normal service is resumed with another great hook and chorus. You get the picture right? This is the whole album!

I will give a special mention to Bring The Riot which brings the melody in spades, but is done in a very modern sounding way. I also love the sleazy barroom vibe of C’mon. Vega are a great band who deserve to be heard, and in this market how does a band like them actually break through? Frontiers – over to you.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VEGA – Only Human

September 22, 2021 /

This is Vega’s sixth studio album and was released on Frontiers in 2018. If you’re not familiar with the UK melodic rock scene, then this band may have passed you by. The roots of the band go back to ’99 when vocalist Nick Workman was in a really good band called Kick. James and Tom Martin had been writing tunes for a lot of bands and artists within that scene, and Frontiers thought it would be a good idea for them to form a band with Workman singing. Anyway, fast forward to now with this album. Although the roots of the music are firmly in the eighties, all of the tracks are very modern sounding with the emphasis on melody. The album sounds great production wise, and was produced by the band and mixed and mastered by Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess.

Opening track, Let’s Have Fun Tonight, is a great up-tempo rocker with a great melody and hook. Worth Dying For takes the foot of the gas slightly, but again a great melody carries the tune along. Last Man Standing would have been a huge hit if we were in the mid eighties, but alas we’re not. l do love the chorus and melody. Come Back Again slows the tempo down and is a lighters-in-the-air arena anthem type of song. All Over Now is another AOR masterpiece. It doesn’t remind me of anybody outright, but it also reminds me of everybody (if that makes sense), as their love of all things eighties is very apparent. Mess You Made closes out Side 1 and has a more modern sound, as well as a nice solo in the middle eight.

The title track leads off Side 2 and another big AOR anthem is on the menu. The rest of the album follows along a similar path with very well written and played songs. My only gripe is there is not enough rockin’ tunes, and I know the band can really play the crap out of the harder stuff. I’m not a big fan of Frontiers as a label, as they always try to put bands together to play to a script. IMHO, the art and originality goes out the window when that happens. Anyhoo, a great album and if you love this type of rock then you’ll be happy.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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