| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: Rex Carroll & Fred Mika |
| Record Label: Metalville | Country Of Origin: Varies |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 54:25 |
Super groups are all the rage, and for 2024 Metalville Records gets in on the action with the June 13th released self-titled debut full length from Earth Lux. Earth Lux traces to French songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Steph Honde (Sunroad, Hollywood Monsters) and Brazilian songwriter and drummer Fred Mika (Sunroad), whom came together with the goal of recording an album ‘incorporating melodic hard rock with seventies influences’. Further realizing the Earth Lux super group pedigree is bassist Michael Voss (Mad Max, MSG and Casanova), British keyboardist Steve Mann (MSG, Lionheart and Eloy) and Irish front man Robin McAuley (Grand Prix, Survivor and MSG). When factoring the departure of McAuley to rejoin MSG and his replacement American lead vocalist Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, Ring Of Fire and Joshua Perahia), the Earth Lux super group picture is complete!
Any project with such a star-studded roster brings high expectations, which fully realize in the strength to the Earth Lux songwriting. Each of the albums songs brings the type of notable hook, riff or melody that would allow it to stand the test of repeat play. So what is the problem? Why the middling 75% score? Production or more specifically manner in which vocals end up placed forward in the mix to the point of detraction. Issue is to such extent that when listening to Earth Lux in the car stereo I turn the volume down lest I fry my ears. I find this a shame in light of the fact I am a fan of Boals’ grainy and soulful vocal abilities, but I do not want him in the same room with me either so to speak. That said, and to be completely fair, it deserves note that all other aspects of production are up to standard.
Earth Lux might not be a Christian band, although it does include several believing members. Album liner notes, for instance, thank ‘God, Jesus Christ’. Lyrics, with exception of “What A Day What A Life” composed by McAuley, attribute to Honde and Mika. Topics covered include life, relationships and occasional spiritual themes from a positive standpoint.
Earth Lux stays true to its musical calling card with a sound I find rooted in hard rock, blues-rock and classic rock. Albums first five songs touch upon the hard rock side beginning with “Shine On Me”. What we have is a high-flying slugger driven by groove-based underpinnings, down the line hooks and all the bluesy sensibilities you could ask. Put this one on any early nineties Bride album and it would sound at home. Lyric snippet:
Looking at the news of the world today
Looking for a new way
My heart is fixed in confidence as young days essence
My thoughts in Lord from above on a flying dove
A perfect one filled with peace to be released
Oooohh, shine on me! Shine on me!
Feeling so positive, set the world apart
Let’s go forward now, right from the start
“Soul Stalker” slows tempo to a melodic mid-paced form. Song might not be heavy as some but proves no less able, punctuating silky harmonies and Mika’s precise timekeeping in resonating demonstrative AOR qualities. Refrain, for example, continuously repeats in firsthand fashion. Honde helps take the song out to five and half minutes with his extended run of passionate lead guitar.
“I’m In Your Heart” upholds the mid paced leaning but with an added seventies edge, noting the impactful rhythm guitar and backend Hammond B3. Boals lends to the heartfelt scene with his emotional but earthy vocal delivery- Peo Pettersson (Leviticus) could not do it better. Hence, how some of the more bluesy material from Bjorn Stigssons 1989 solo album Together With Friends comes to mind. Lyric snippet:
I felt my way getting narrow
Walking roads of blues and sorrow
Hoping to wake up soon
Snippets of my integrity
Trying to mend this fence for me
While its my reality
I’m in your heart, I’m too deep
I’m in a place without the head
Could you send some sign from far away?
A touch of AOR tinged melodic hard rock on “Backstage Business”. Song gives prominence to an enhanced low end found in Voss’ larger than life bass line alongside elegantly done rhythms and bluesy lead guitar. The polished residuals bring to mind 1991 Bloodgood album All Stand Together.
Heaviness elevates on “Silent Cry Screamer”, a darker cut intrinsic to outbursts of periodic venturesome angst alongside contrasting acoustic tincturing and delicate melodies. Low-end impacts with full force to further build upon the pressing hooks speaking of the radio friendly. Earth Lux finds its prime groove on this one. Lyric snippet:
I’m still searching for that glimpse of light
Among the long, long balance of your time
You wrote your book, and I read each page
And then all I got it’s your afterimage
Kaleidoscope of broken dreams
Much harder than it seems
Bad way learner, a long time dreamer
Silent cry screamer
“What A Day, What A Life” reveals the Earth Lux classic rock side. It comes across in the form of a ballad, with acoustic guitar and classical instrumentation to start later joined by heavier rhythm guitar and Honde’s ever present (and quite skillfully done) soloing. In similar acoustic direction but aligned with Hammond B3 is closer “Lorraine” carried out to seven and half minutes with its extended Pink Floyd-ish instrumental moments. Honde joins Boals in form of a duet.
Earth Lux is in its natural element on the blues-rock environs to “Kyrie Eleison”. With shuffling slide guitar leading the way, “Kyrie Eleison” pinpoints the laid back and reserved - I take to the assembled vocal melodies for the burnished refrain - that while backing from the group’s heavier leanings is every bit sound. Boals and Honde again form a duet. Lyric snippet:
Hand to hand, face to face
Soaked by amazing grace
Joyful journey, I can see it
I can feel it till the end
Ethereal, Kryie Eleison, by the cross, by the Son
I feel the heaven compassion
Spreading upon our temptations
Guide my hand, things are alright
Soaked by amazing grace
“Stormy Tower” returns to classic rock territory. It trends the mid-tempo, reveling in the grainy and plainspoken its inspiring six minutes as emphatic hooks point to the nonchalant and flagrant rhythms the informal. No, this one might not bite to quite the extent as some here, but it proves arresting all the same.
Back to hard rock with “That Room”. With open-air guitar to start, it punctuates its span to mirthful bass and heartfelt vocal harmonies in playing up a melodic layering while not forsaking the bluesy, revealed in the earthy remnants to hold sway (once more, Bride comes to mind). I appreciate manner in which lead guitar lends a metal flair.
“Paths Of Infinity” might be albums shortest at three and half minutes but is also one of its most energetic. It empowers to a gleeful tempo from the get go, shining to a jubilant melody and carefree harmonies as Mika sets the paramount tone with his repeated double bass. I wish Earth Lux featured a couple of more spirited cuts in similar form. Lyric snippet:
Forty minutes walking in the sun
Walking all alone
My head’s in the clouds and
My feet are on the stone
Everything, every time, coming from nowhere
In my thoughts there’s a huge dream to stare
Come and see, paths of infinity
As you know, my mind’s like a tree
Earth Lux equates to a musically superior album only held back by vocal production issues. Each of its songs shines in separating from the rest - there is nary a skip button here - while the ‘super group’ approach works without flaw. Yes, five different musicians each with a varying background but one cannot deny the musical continuity. That said lone drawback is a too forward mix of lead vocals. Correct the vocal mix and musical quality is such I grade the album in the 85% to 90% range.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Shine On Me” (3:45), “Soul Stalker” (5:23), “I’m In Your Heart” (3:48), “Backstage Business” (4:46), “Silent Cry Screamer” (5:33), “What A Day, What A Life” (5:09), “Kyrie Eleison” (4:00), “Stormy Tower” (6:06), “That Room” (4:54), “Paths Of Infinity” (3:31), “Lorraine” (7:29)
Musicians
Mark Boals - Lead Vocals
Steph Honde - Guitars & Lead Vocals
Steve Mann - Keyboards
Michael Voss - Bass
Fred Mika - Drums
