Vega - Battlelines

UK rockers Vega are back with "Battlelines", their eighth studio album overall and the culmination of a string of releases which started in 2009 with their debut album "Kiss Of Life". The new album, while not a departure from the band's defined and classy sound, shows a band determined, mature and ready for the next step in their career. It has a crisp sound and immaculate musicianship showcasing the great talents in the band. On the songwriting front, the band has returned with a more muscular sound, but no less filled to the brim with melodies that will grab you from the first note to the last. "Battlelines" completes a line-up revolution which started already with the previous record "Anarchy And Unity". Exit the Martin brothers, keyboardist James and bassist Tom, enter the new bass player Mart Trail who, together with Billy Taylor (ex-Inglorious) on guitars and Pete Newdeck (Nitrate, Midnite City) on drums (who both debuted on the previous record), singer Nick Workman and guitarist Marcus Thurston gel together in a perfect musical combo that truly brings Vega to a completely new level. Vega wears its musical influences on the sleeves: may it be the classic Bon Jovi sound from the late 80s and 90s or Def Leppard, the Birmingham based quintet knows well how to create melodic rock with a hard edge that's as catchy as hell! Perhaps even a little more hard-hitting than the previous albums, but "Battlelines" is still a very well-crafted and entertaining album of the act's trademark melodic heavy rock. With pent up energy, a rejuvenated line-up and a brand-new album, Vega is now firing on all cylinders. With dates penciled in for Autumn it may well be the case of a show not to be missed.