Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Vega
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2014
Running time: 52:15
Rating: 5/5
The third studio album from British AOR revivalists Vega picks up where the band’s previous two left off and delivers another top-quality follow-up, one that only cements their name on the scene as one of the most expressively accomplished acts in the genre they remain devoted to.
»Stereo Messiah« brings the band back under the wing of the Italian label Frontiers Records, which put out their debut studio album, »Kiss of Life«, at the end of 2010. The new record serves up 12 melodically flawless AOR anthems, production-wise polished to the last detail and sonically refined down to the finest nuance. They’re full of bombast, infectious catchiness and real rock punch! The way those qualities blend together is outstanding. »Stereo Messiah«, the band’s third studio album, captures the moment of Vega’s greatest artistic maturity and expressive power. Considering the long musical career of veteran Nick Workman, who was already working with British melodic AOR rockers Kick back in the eighties, that’s hardly a surprise. What’s surprising is that Workman didn’t have time to join the recording of Kick’s comeback album »Memoirs« (2013), an otherwise very good record, but one that’s missing the dot on the i that only Workman’s phenomenal vocals can deliver!
Workman remains the central figure of the whole show on the new album. His voice is in top form, and Nick handles it as if even the highest register were no obstacle at all, something he can’t soar past with confident, explosive, passionately sensual delivery. The set of 12 songs is once again superbly crafted and melodically tuned to the max. The song »10 X Bigger than Love« was co-written with Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot, who also jumps in as a guest musician for vocal duets with Workman. The track is the album’s big attraction, the kind of thing that will probably sell a few more copies of »Stereo Messiah«, even though in terms of quality it doesn’t stand out from the rest of the material at all. You’ll have to find the highlights yourself. And that was the conclusion when reviewing the previous two releases too. It’s simply the perfectionism that Vega so skillfully maintain from record to record.
Along with all that songwriting polish, the album has, by a wide margin, the most dynamic, lively and compact production of any Vega record to date. It went into the hands of John Mitchell (It Bites, Arena, John Wetton), who took care of the mix, and from there, for the final mastering, straight across the Atlantic to the Canadian Harry Hess (Harem Scarem). It’s clear that there isn’t a single flaw anywhere on »Stereo Messiah«.
Vega, who after just two albums have already earned such respect among connoisseurs of melodic rock, have in their relatively short career opened for well-known acts like Tesla, Saxon, Michael Schenker Group and FM. With the new album they keep strengthening their position, delivering what is surely the band’s most mature and most accomplished studio effort to date, and with it they step up to the front line of the best melodic rock bands of the new era.
Lineup
Nick Workman – vocals
Tom Martin – guitar
James Martin – keyboards
Dan Chantrey – drums
Production
John Mitchell & Harry Hess
Track list
01. Stereo Messiah
02. All Or Nothing
03. Wherever We Are
04. Ballad Of The Broken Hearted
05. Gonna Need Some Love Tonight
06. The Fall
07. Neon Heart
08. With Both Hands
09. 10 X Bigger Than Love
10. My Anarchy
11. The Wild, The Weird, The Wonderful
12. Tears Never Dry
GUEST MUSICIAN:
Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) – vocals on track no. 9.
