Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite have been doing their thing very well since the early 1980s. Albeit with some lengthy gaps between albums.
After a gap of some sixteen years since Clifton Hill in 2008, they reappeared early last year (2024) with the excellent Alive (review here).
Now, barely a year and a half later here we are in the summer of 2025 and they give us another “ripper” of a hard edged melodic rock album titled Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down.
As I mentioned in my review of Alive, I go back to the mid-80s with the band after hearing some of their stuff on the local radio station and I’ve enjoyed their music ever since. Their brand of muscular melodics always sounds fresh and upbeat.
With Derry Grehan chopping out the chunky riffs and flowing, to the point solos and Johnny Dee’s soaring vocals, Honeymoon Suite do not disappoint and that is very much the case here on Wake Me Up Before the Sun Goes Down.
I Fly (the opener) being a prime example. An infectious and deceptively hard hitting few minutes with Grehan showing his chops with the solo.
Way of the World goes in to heavier territory with a muscular feel to it before Every Minute completes a fine first trio.
Check out Way of the World:
The first ballad appears next in the form of Way Too Fast. As is the other more ballad style of Live On. Though both are slick and well done.
There’s some bluesy tinged stuff going on here with the likes of Crazy Life and the throbbing Unpredictable and the thumping rocker of Ever Leave You Lonely which is the closer.
Ten classy, punchy, concise, uplifting, feel good rockers with the 80s tinge and more hooks than an angler’s fully stocked fishing basket. And whilst on a fishing analogies, here’s another – each song here an earworm.
Well over four decades in and Honeymoon Suite remain more than able to produce hardish melodic rock as good as anyone.
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