Time Signature Till the end of time...

Genre: hard rock / melodic metal

The Spanish hard rockers Airless are back with a new release - namely, their fourth full-length effort, which is simply entitled "Changes".

The keyword here is melody, as every track evolves around catchy melodies. There is a huge inspiration from AOR, and every track is literally very radio-friendly. Still, we are not, although there are plenty of pop elements, not dealing with hard rock that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

There is a lot of quality here. Firstly, the musicianship i top notch, and especially the guitar solos are no less than impressive. Secondly, there are actually several straight up metal elements and even some hints of aggression and heavy grooves. So, metalheads who do not mind a bit of melody might enjoy this release.

Quality hard rock which combines AOR and melodic metal, Airless' "Changes" should definitely be welcome in any hard rock album collection.

Stephen If Flamenco, Matador, and Ibiza are what make Spain interesting, then it's not a sin to put Airless to the list. Hailing from Bilbao, this melodic hard rock quartet amazed me with a record full of heavenly hooks, sing-along chorus, memorable tones, and electrifying guitar highlight. This third installment which was released in 2008 by Lion Music can be described as a cross of early White Lion or Lynch Mob with modern-day Harem Scarem, with first half of the album wandering around the light and bright side, while the second half is darker and heavier.

"Don't Give Up" and "Now Or Never" will greet you with a warm and happy tunes, featuring Rodrigo's shredding and tapping galore with the band's victorious chant of the gigantic chorus. "Time To Say Goodbye" is an irresistible huge radio-hit-potential power ballad, while "Crying For Your Love" is their best track with an unbelievable stunning hooks and jaw-dropping solos. Onto the second half, couple of dark-ambience riffings of "Switch Off The Light" or "Blame" are okay but doesn't spark my interest as much as the uptempo kicker of "One Last Kiss" and the swelling rhythm of the title track with a punchy chorus.

Lazakano's great voice is blending well with the band's music and while Roberto Rodrigo steals the show with his exceptional guitar works, bassist Manjon and drummer Martinez both provide a tight and thick rhythm section to the band. I heard a very good sound production on this album, and with a pack of strong tracks and couple of average songs, "Fight" is penny-worth release and essential to have for fans of melodic hard rock. Four stars is undoubtedly warranted and I'm looking forward to their next release. Fantástico!