Review | Atlantic – Another World

Escape Music

Never thought I would see the day that UK AOR-rockers Atlantic would come up with a second album some 30 years after their epic debut ‘Power’. At the time the group around Simon Harrison (guitar/bass/keyboards and main composer/producer) was signed to the independent label Music For Nations that in that period was on top of their game (also Q5 was signed to MFN) but in the end did not last in the record business. Atlantic did not last either with Harrison moving on to other production and writing adventures. Although Escape Music re-released ‘Power’ somewhere in 2008 it did not mean that a revival of the band was imminent.

GRIM REAPER CONNECTION

Some years ago, Harrison met vocalist Mark Grimmett, a brother of Steve Grimmett, the lead vocalist for Lionsheart, Onslaught and Grim Reaper. As you might know Steve is no longer with us. Slowly but surely Harrison and Grimmett starting working on an album, involving several musicians of Grim Reaper with the proceedings such as bass player Julian Hill. At the end of 2023 the album was recorded and finished with the help of drummer/guitarist Mark Pullin, guitarist Nick Burr, the already mentioned Julian Hill and keyboardist Tim Bristow, with additional help from Andy Margrett (guitar) and Gareth David Noon (keyboards).

TIME STOOD STILL

When the first song ,,Ready Or Not’’ comes through on the speakers it is like time stood still. This track sounds like a perfect continuation of ‘Power’ with the same silky sound and smooth approach. Although Mark Grimmett is a different singer in comparison with Atlantic’s first singer Phil Bates (and certainly a very different singer than his brother Steve), the style of the album just follows ‘Power’. Bathing in a crystal-clear production the band works itself through eleven pure AOR-rockers. So, everything sounds like this a top-notch album, right?

SOPPY LYRICS

It must admit, I like this album but it is not as catchy as ‘Power’ was. My main problem is the extremely soppy lyrics. I know, the love factor in the lyrics is key in this kind of music but all eleven songs deal with the same topic. Broken relationships, yearning for love, missing a loved one and more of that soft touch stuff… It becomes a bit too much of the same. Surely there are other topics you can built an AOR-album around but not in this case.

ATLANTIC – THE CONCLUSION

Luckily the execution of the music plus its beautiful sound and arrangements makes up for a lot but to me at times the real spark is not for a fully hundred percent there. I have been reading raving reviews so far, so maybe I was expecting a bit too much. This record does not do it completely for me. But do not get me wrong though, for fans of AOR that love their late eighties, early nineties silky and smooth, well-crafted stuff in the style of bands like Dare, FM, Journey etcetera ‘Another World’ will be a joy to hear. But is it as good as ‘Power’ was in its day? That is something you can judge for yourself…

Release date: 21 June 2024