Force were from Birmingham forming in 1985 and style-wise were at the melodic end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. During their shortish career, Force could boast a healthy local following when gigging however a recording deal would elude them.
They did lay down some tracks at their manager’s recording studio – none of which (as far as I can recall) saw any sort of public release.
Now somehow those top people at Obscure NWOBHM Releases have unearthed some of those old studio recordings and put them out on a limited edition CD run of 500 copies. It’s excellent that they keep finding hidden gems such as Force from the old days.
Whilst having distinctly melodic tendencies, Force had a rocky edge to their song writing too. Generally a mixture of clean, cutting, chugging riffs, simple, clean throbbing bass lines and some excellent keyboard swells and stabs bigging up the sound along with nice vocal work pushing the big hooks and melodies.
I’d say Force were not unlike Glasgow, Chinawite, a bit of early Magnum and even in places not dissimilar to Uriah Heep around their Head First album. Their melodic leanings probably complimented by the former Montreaux drummer Andy Harper.
Each of the eleven songs here are all enjoyable. Generally chunky melodic rockers with understated heaviness. In particular I stand Alone and Love is Blind.
Words of Freedom is a favourite with one of those big chugging riffs and the bass line punching it along as the song builds to an atmospheric finish as the keyboard swells fill things out further.
City Life is great too. Keyboards to the fore, another chugging/cutting riff and a big hook. Not unlike Magnum. Have a listen:
A Shame it didn’t work out for Force back in the latter half of the 1980s. Though thanks to Obscure NWOBHM Releases for having such a knack of finding those “hidden” bands form back then and giving them a showcase.
City Life is a limited run of just 500 CDs. I bagged mine directly from Obscure NWOBHM Releases. As I type this review (3 April 2021) there are still copies available from the label and it’s also shown as available from one of my other “go to” places so stuff like this which is Sonic Age Records.
Here are links to both though if the Force CD not listen when you get there, it’ll mean it’s sold out.
Obscure NWOBHM Releases:
https://onreleases.bigcartel.com
Sonic Age Records:
https://sonicagerecords.com