2018 just keeps getting better and better for album releases with another one ive looking forward to hearing and reviewing, its VEGA with their fifth offering ‘Only Human’ through Frontiers Music. I’ve followed Nick, Tom, James & the boys since the very start of their career, and their debut release ‘Kiss of Life’ features in my top 10 albums of the past 10 years. VEGA have always delivered quality melodic rock with a modern twist, and ‘Only Human’ follows the same trusted path, but i must say having listened to the album over a dozen times this is something a bit special.
The album kicks off proceedings with the in your face rocker ‘Lets have Fun Tonight’, which oozes quality and sets the scene for the rest to follow. Next tracks up ‘Worth Dying For’ and ‘Last Man Standing’ (my personal favourite) are pure VEGA and could have featured on their debut album, with their big choruses and harmonies. This is why Paul Anthony from Planet Rock loves this band so much and is currently playing tunes from this album on his breakfast show, it’s that good. ‘Come Back Again’ and ‘All Over Now’ are pure stadium rock tunes, full of melody and soul coupled with top-notch vocals, and would have featured heavily on MTV rotation if they had been released 30 years ago. The quality just keep on coming with ‘Mess You Made’, the title track ‘Only Human’ and the 80s power ballad ‘Standing Still’ drive this album through, with catchy lyrics, memorable hooks & the trade mark VEGA choruses.
Next up the powerful ‘Gravity’, the catchy ‘Fade Away’ and the outstanding ballad ‘Turning Pages’, where Nick Workman showcases his superb vocal abilities bring the album to the final track , the excellent ‘Go To War’, which makes me keep this outstanding album play through again.
For me this is VEGA’s best release since their debut ‘Kiss Of Life’ , when you have got a great vocalist, amazing songwriters and a cracking guitarist in Marcus Thurston you cannot go wrong. It’s an essential May purchase for all those melodic rock lovers out there, and make sure you get the chance to catch VEGA on their forthcoming tour, as they are as good live as on record. VEGA deserve all the positive press with this release and i really hope this can break them into the big time. So make sure you all get your tickets for the June/July tour dates, and i will see you down the front …..
ONLY HUMAN is the fifth studio album from UK melodic rock stalwarts Vega. The band produced the album and also teamed up with the legendary Canadian musician and producer, Harry Hess of Harem Scarem on mixing and mastering to bring their fans another gem of a melodic rock record!
“We wear our love of 80’s rock music on our sleeve, but we also have injected our love of modern rock music to it. We aren’t trying to rehash anything: the sound we have achieved is 100% VEGA. We didn’t want to try and guess what people expect and get it wrong,” says singer Nick Workman.
Following the release of their fourth studio album, ‘Who We Are’ in 2016, Vega remained busy promoting that album before jumping right back into the studio to record the follow-up, ONLY HUMAN. Promoting their last studio album, VEGA toured with Magnum, Dan Reed Network did a headline gig at the O2 Academy 2, appeared at the Steelhouse Festival, headlined Melodic Rock Night in Padova, IT, and hit Spain for a handful of dates. Additionally, they appeared at Derby At The Spot, Planet Rock’s Winter’s End Festival, Hard Rock Heaven AOR 5, Nordic Noise, Amplified Festival, and Rockingham Festival.
PRODUCED BY:VEGA MIXED BY:Harry Hess MASTERED BY: Harry Hess
BAND MEMBERS:
Nick Workman: Lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar and wall hitter
Tom Martin: Bass guitar
Marcus Thurston: Lead Guitar
James Martin: Keyboards
Mikey Kew: Guitar, backing vocals
Martin “Hutch” Hutchinson: Drums
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