Strike Hard
Pitch Black, 2020
8/10
The UK old school outfit Airforce have made quite an impression since reforming in 2016, and this 2nd album after reforming only cements them as masters of the hook friendly, riff heavy and soaring landscape sort of metal that sounded as great in 1986, when they began, as it does today.
“Fight” starts the listen ‘80s influenced guitar riffage that’s complemented by the well sung vocals in a powerful yet melodic classic metal sort of way, and “Die For You” follows with a firm crunch amid a thicker approach that’s no less impactful in it’s nearly operatic delivery.
The middle tracks are some of the best, including the mesmerizing “Finest Hour” that swirls with a charged, incendiary rhythm section with an anthemic quality, while “Don’t Look In Her Eyes” displays proficient guitar work in the muscular hard rocker. “War Games” then illustrates both soft and abrasive tendencies in a ballad meets restrained rock approach that’s both rich and adventurous.
Deeper tracks include “The War Inside”, which sounds right in mid ‘80s in a Motley Crue meets Dio sort of way, and “Faith Healer”, the CD bonus track, weaves guitar acrobatics around propulsive drumming and top notch singing that draws parallel to Bruce Dickinson.
At their inception, Airforce consisted of Chop Pitman (guitar), Tony Hatton (bass), and Doug Sampson (drums), who was previously in Iron Maiden. These days, Flavio Lino is handling vocals and doing an exceptional job across these retro hard rockin’ tunes that are built well and executed flawlessly.
Travels well with: Sinsid- Enter The Gates; Balls Gone Wild- HIgh Roller