It’s been 2 years and 5 days since we last reviewed a Station album and they’re still not the biggest rock band in the world, to which I beg the question: What the literal fuck? I know our webzine pales in size (not quality) to the likes of Blabbermouth and Metal Injection, but I swear on my life, if I have to hold one of those so called journalists at gunpoint to get them to write about Station and not Corey Taylor’s breakfast for a change, I will (It’s called “sarcasm” for those in the back.) There is virtually no reason this band’s name shouldn’t be on the lips of every rock fan from coast to coast, especially with the release of their latest album, And Time Goes On.
Indeed, time goes on, but Station’s sound remains rooted in the glorious ’80s. Yet again, these retro AOR messiahs have struck gold, and while deviating from the plot just a tad. Time is easily the hardest Station album since their self titled debut, if not the hardest in their catalog altogether. Whereas 2021’s Perspective was an exercise in breezy west coast AOR romanticism, Time fuses that approach with pop metal anthems and Sunset Strip inspired hedonism straight off the music video rotation of Headbangers Ball. Talk about being totally tubular!
This “new and improved” pop metal Station is prevalent as ever on the opening “Over & Over”. Energetic and aggressive by AOR standards, the song grabs the listener by the throat and demands everyone to tune up their air guitars; you’re gonna need ’em. Cuts like “If You Want Me Too” and “Around the Sound” capture the essence of Leppard better than Leppard has in 40 years. Meanwhile, “Better Off Alone” and “No Reason” are so sugary sleazy that they could wake one up from a diabetic coma. Make no mistake; the label execs would’ve been all over this in ’86.
Fear not AOR purists! Station has you covered as well. Just like on past releases, they so effortlessly tap into the dreamy magic of 4 era Foreigner on cuts like “Close My Eyes”, “Locked Away”, and “Something In Between”, amongst others. Their knack for melody and atmosphere are virtually untouchable in today’s climate, with the powerhouse vocals of frontman Patrick Kearney serving as the figurative icing on the cake. With all due respect to their kickass rockin’ material, it’s on these AOR-centric tunes where Station shines at their brightest.
So we’re going to try this again. In exactly 2 years and 5 days from now, on October 24, 2025, I will review Station’s sixth studio album. Or maybe not. It depends how fast or slow these guys are in the studio, but I digress. If we get to that date and Station aren’t at the very least filling 1,000 cap rooms, you all need to collectively slap yourselves on the wrist. Yeah, YOU. Play this album for your friends. Recommend it to your local rock radio DJ. Spam it in the comment section of the significantly less cool metal webzines. Station deserves to rule the nation!
7 out of 10
Label: Station Music
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Foreigner, Def Leppard, Ratt