Nitrate – ‘Feel The Heat’

(Frontiers Records)

This is the fourth album from Nick Hogg’s Nitrate, Alexander Strandell (Art Nation) is back on vocals as are Tom and James Martin on guitars and keyboards respectively. Brummie Alex Cooper has joined the band on drums, a cool addition as he is an extremely talented musician and songwriter in his own right!

I associate the Martin Brothers with top quality music and their heavier involvement with this album is abundantly clear with Nitrate definitely kicking it up a gear as this album is a stunning slab of Melodic Rock. These bright and breezy songs have a strong Eighties vibe and a smattering of Synthwave which just tick all the right boxes for me with songs consistently bringing a smile to my face.

From beginning to end this album is modern fresh Melodic Rock inspired by the Eighties in general, not just AOR and Melodic Rock. Anthemic doesn’t do the feeling of these songs’ justice and all of these tracks could have featured on an old-fashioned movie Soundtrack! It’s such a heart-warming album that really has a strong uplifting feel that is just so joyful and warm I just fell in love with this album instantaneously.

Strandell’s Vocals are superb and perfectly suited to this style of melodic rock he gets enough emotion in the mix whilst still maintaining the strong melodies to really hit you in the feels his duet on ‘One Kiss (To Save My Heart)’ is a prime example of him doing just that! Obviously having the amazing Issa to bounce of on the song is bound to make it an emotive punch to the heart!

James Martin’s keyboards are fantastic as you’d expect, but he really is firing on all cylinders on this album. Definitely some of his best work to date and he even adds some Synthwave stuff to the mix which is simply delicious and intensifies those Eighties vibes. It’s not a soft album the guitars do pack a punch but I just love the sublime keyboards!

‘Feel The Heat’ could easily become my album of the year, it is sheer uplifting melodic rock perfection. It’s a big hearted, upbeat soundtrack to a joyous summer that will have everyone smiling, singing and dancing. I’ve always liked Nitrate but this album definitely sees them come of age and deliver an essential melodic rock album that’s fresh whilst evoking the joy of the Eighties.

10/10

Essential Track - 'Needs A Little Love'

Review by Woody