Sunday, June 3, 2018

REVIEW : N.H.A ---- No Hot Ashes (Frontiers Music s.r.l., 2018)

For sure, Frontiers Music s.r.l. brings some great music over the years. It's a label that when it comes to quality it comes first, no doubt 'bout that. This time with No Hot Ashes the Italian label brings yet another highlight for 2018. In the case of this Irish act of No Hot Ashes (N.H.A.), it is a 'better late than never' situation as the band waited almost 34 years for this release!!!

N.H.A. were formed back in 1983 and they released their debut single in 1986 with the title "She Drives Me Crazy". They signed a record deal but due to the music changes back then their debut album never saw the light of day. In 2013, N.H.A. reunited for a show with bands such as FM, Scorpions and UFO and four years later they got back in the studio to record their debut opus. But the bad news were that founding member and bass player Paul Boyd succumbed to cancer in the same year so the album was respectfully dedicated to him.

The album kicks-off with the brilliant rocker of "Come Alive" that is one of the absolute highlights here. It's a tune that reminds early FM and that's a thing that I love the most 'cause I'm a huge fan of FM. The groovy "Satisfied" is killer while in the mid-tempo "Boulders" we have another beautiful moment out of this new record. With "I'm Back", the band delivers a killer song; edgier with a monstrous melodic rhythm "I'm Back" is really breathtaking!!! In "Over Again", we have yet another interesting moment. A classic melodic rock song that includes some strong Thin Lizzy pinches here and there, a nice harmonic line and a catchy chorus. The band, also, covers the Rick Springfield's classic tune of "Souls" and the final result is totally great!!! 

Bottom line is that No Hot Ashes's debut opus is just brilliant and high quality melodic rock stuff, period!! Just pure and classic mid 80's music with class and style that will be welcomed by any fan of the melodic rock scene in general. 


Rating : 9/10


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