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NIGHT BY NIGHT
NxN

Sun Hill Production (2014)
Rating: 8/10

I think it’s time for a dose of some positive British rock, and the latest relative newcomers to bring the vibes of joy are Night By Night. These London-based melodic rockers have been causing a few murmurs since their inception, and also touted by a few well-known rock stars such as Def Leppard’s Rick Savage.

It’s no real surprise then that with such a reputation Night By Night have released an excellent debut affair. Boasting ten blazing anthems, Night By Night is the sort of band marrying contemporary design with a tinge of glitzy 80s-styled dynamics.

Now the main forceful ingredient of this combo has to be vocalist Henry Rundell who once plied his trade with the rather unremarkable Voodoo Sixx, but this time round his soaring tones are suited to a polished sound that by right should draw attention from crowds worldwide.

Okay, so this quintet may also appeal to the current Kerrang! crowd who like their music clean and emotional to say the least, but it doesn’t distract from the fact that there are some top tunes on here which are constructed by the healthy amalgamation of Damien Diablo’s drums, Jonny Thornton’s bass, and the guitar duo of Tom Daniel and ex-Sisters Of Mercy man Ben Christo.

Thankfully, in spite of the contemporary leans towards, say, Alter Bridge, there is still that fluent and breezy 80s feel and a weight to boot which enables tracks such as ‘Holding Onto Holding On’ and ‘Can’t Walk Away’ to boast a sure-fire kick in the guitar and percussion departments.

With bands such as Reckless Love and the likes giving an extra layer of polish to 80s hard rock, it seems only natural that the more youthful sounding Night By Night should take this sound even further by melting together AOR and traditional rock with a pop-edged accessibility. There is a distinctive freshness about this platter which revels in its own pomp, but doesn’t need to rely on gimmickry to prevail.

The musicianship is as tight as a duck’s sphincter as ‘Everywhere Tonight’ chimes in with an almost Def Leppard-styled sway, before those crystal clear strains emerge from Rundell’s throat. ‘Siren’ punches hard and is one of the weightiest numbers on the album; a chugging riff and robust drum punch adds extra swagger to enable the solo to make its own path, worming its way around Rundell’s added spice. ‘It’s Not Faith’ continues the hair metal extravaganza to full-effect; the sing-a-long chorus and fizzing riff is typical of all that was and still is great about an era metal should never want to escape from. And as ‘The Moment’ emerges with the elegance of a simple chord, the band exhibits its ability to transform into a machine which drives hard yet keeps the melody strong.

What will really intrigue the audience though, is the fact that in spite of its influences, Night By Night’s opus never relies on cliché. Instead, there is an air of maturity suggesting that the band is confident in its own ability and not once does it become parody, which in my opinion is where acts such as Reckless Love fail.

NxN is an album that stands on its own two feet and never once feels the need to rehash, and all the while Henry Rundell is a master of his own voice, this band having enough in the locker to release a batch of classy albums. My only real gripe is that there is no real huge anthem or mesmerising standout track, but having said that, NxN is consistent throughout which is something contemporary bands seem unable to produce. The next album could really propel Night By Night into the big-time if they can just find a few winners to introduce them to the world rather than just a specific genre.

Neil Arnold

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