In a recent post I looked at the debut album by Signal Red titled Under the Radar. It’s a cracker and you can read my review in this post.
In that post I mentioned they followed it up with alien Nation in 2020 and I was waiting for it to arrive.
Now I have my hands on Alien Nation and, like Under the Radar, I’m pleased to say that Alien Nation is also a cracker of an album.
As with the debut, the main protagonists here are guitarist Steve Grocott (Ten) and vocals by Lee Small (Lionheart etc.) with Steve writing the music and whatnot and Lee the lyrics and vocal melodies.
Steve also handles the keys with he and Lee joined my the always excellent Steve Newman (Compass etc.) on bass and Daniel Zaman on drums.
And with Alien Nation, they’ve put together another album of sublimely classy melodic rock with proper bite to it.
Steve provides the big guitar licks, stunning soloing and superb keyboard work with the combination of the two working so well together. Lee’s vocal work and his controlled soaring voice always a highlight. The other Steve (Newman) provides the melodic basslines and Daniel the solid foundation drumming.
Wide Awake in Dreamland is a powerful opener which has it all. A thumping rocker with the big hook, melody and chorus from Small’s vocal and Grocott’s guitar riffing and shredding away and his keyboard work is rather jolly good too. A big effort indeed. Have a listen:
Email to God is another big one pulsing away with more soaring vocal and guitar as is Insomnia. Huge melodies and choruses abound in memorable style.
Dance Macabre has an offbeat januty yet urgent feel to it with lots of synths bigging it up. Ghosts a little slower and another monster chorus then Rocket Fuel is a scorcher of a song. Fast, hard, heavy.
There’s nothing not to like here. As with the debut album, on Alien Nation Grocott and Small show how well they work together and compliment each other to come up with another classy and enjoyable offering. Highly recommended stuff.
>> SIGNAL RED ALIEN NATION ON AMAZON <<
Don’t forget to check out Signal Red’s excellent debut album – review is here.
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