If you’re of a certain age, you remember that era when heavy metal, hard rock, and AOR were thrown together in the same basket. Think 1978 to 1982. Yes Virginia, once upon a time it wasn’t uncommon for Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest to appear on the same compilations as Journey and Loverboy (see 1981’s Speaker Death!). Now this was long before Journey and Loverboy were diluted to a handful of songs on soccer mom radio. This was a time when both bands were known for their hard rocking album cuts and live shows. Had High Spirits come on the the scene 40 years earlier, they may have faced the same problems today. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
Chris Black has spent the last decade releasing music under the High Spirits moniker. He writes, records, and performs all of the songs himself. That’s right: High Spirits is a one man band. I’m not sure what Black’s secret formula is. Every song on every High Spirits release has hit single potential. Their latest album, Hard to Stop, is no exception. It wasn’t until I hit play on this album that I forgot how much I missed High Spirits. It’s been three long years since their last release! Sure, Black has gifted us with numerous Professor Black albums and the quirky excellence of this year’s new Aktor album, Placebo. But High Spirits is addictive: one listen and you’re hooked!
Hard to Stop opens full throttle with the blistering “Since You’ve Been Gone” (not to be confused with a similarly titled Russ Ballard composition). It’s a friendly reminder that despite the melodic pomp and nuances throughout, you are listening to a metal album. That sense of heaviness doesn’t return until the tail end one-two punch of “Now I Know” and “We Are Everywhere”. In between, we’re treated to tracks such as “Hearts Will Burn” and “Midnight Sun”. Both tow the line between metal and hard rock, reminiscent of the melodic leaning NWOBHM acts. “Midnight Sun” in particular boasts some classic Leppard-esque riffage.
There’s even some outright AOR! “Voices in the Wind” might be the most radio friendly song High Spirits has ever recorded and that speaks volumes. Is it light hearted? Sure, but that’s the whole point of High Spirits. Not everything has to be “trve” and “kvlt”. Sometimes you just gotta appreciate that you’re listening to what sounds like a lost Bryan Adams hard rock single. And if “Voices in the Wind” is AOR, the following track, “All Night Long”, is ultra AOR. I love everything about this song, from the twin guitars to the catchy chorus.
How does Hard to Stop measure up to previous High Spirits releases? I’d say about the same. Every High Spirits release is a clinic in melodic songwriting and excellent musicianship. The biggest tragedy is that they aren’t a household name. To quote my dad in a conversation with Black after a High Spirits show a couple years ago, “Why aren’t you opening for Scorpions?” It’s a fair question. Why aren’t they opening for Scorpions? The old school masses would be overjoyed to lay their ears on this. So if you or a loved one are fans of anything hard and heavy circa 1978 to 1982, pick up a copy of Hard to Stop now. Side effects may include: headbanging, fist pumping, air guitaring, dancing, singing along, rocking out, smiling, and all around carefreeness.
10 out of 10
Label: High Roller Records
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Def Leppard, Scorpions, Y&T