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Feels Like Home

    
       
       
       
     
             
Edge Of The Blade are a melodic rock band from the UK formed in 2014 by Alan Kelly (current 7HY and former Shy drummer), and John Francis (former After Hours vocalist). The band released their debut album 'The Ghosts Of Humans' in 2015, and their sophomore album 'Feels Like Home' in 2020.    
             
When I think of melodic rock with a massive AOR slant, bands such as Journey, Boston, and Foreigner, along with Revolution Saints, Radiant, and (of course) 7HY, spring immediately to mind. The new album from Edge Of The Blade 'Feels Like Home' will make you feel just like that... After a long hard day doing whatever it is you do, it feels great to get home, take off your work gear, serve yourself a drink, and unwind with your feet up listening to some relaxing music. And what better way to unwind and relax with 'Feels Like Home'. Ten songs and forty minutes of smile inducing, mood lifting AOR therapy to blow away all of your days troubles. Each song on offer is sprinkled with feel good vibes, invoking involuntary head nodding and foot tapping wherever they're heard. Opening with 'Santa Carla', the new album comes to life in a sprightly manner, with a massive spring in its step. 'Santa Carla' is up tempo, full of energy, and will plant a smile on the face of everyone - everywhere...    
             
...as will the more energetic 'State Of Love'. With more oomph and plenty of beef, 'State Of Love' is a hard rocking, heavy hitting hammer blow of catchy and infectious AOR. And that chorus - sing a long able to the max. With its much more melodic feel than the previous song, 'Lonely Life' is a head nodder, a foot tapper, and a sing a long-er.. 'Lonely Life' is only the third song on offer, yet progressively, each one has been better than the last, continually lifting the mood, with wave after wave of happy vibes lapping the soul. And for the nearest the album has gotten to a ballad so far - 'Falling For You' is by no means a lighters in the air moment, but is a much mellower offering than what has gone before. And it's definitely aimed at the lovers and smoochers. Get those roses and chocolates and reserve a table at the local restaurant for a romantic meal for two. Beef and punch return with weight, as 'Never Be A Next Time' hits hard, strutting its stuff with pomp and pride. Feet will be stamping hard along to this one that's for sure...    
             
'Don't Leave Me Now' heralds the albums second half with an almighty foot stomp. An anthemic thump takes over the airways, 'Don't Leave Me Now' rumbling like a distant thunderstorm, threatening to engulf but ultimately keeping its distance. Mellow melodic rock takes front and centre with 'The Last Time', with head nodding of the slightly more energetic kind accompanying this one. And expecting a ballad, 'Never Needed Love' doesn't deliver... What it does deliver, is a combination of mellow and punch, keeping the hard rock in check, remaining firmly and squarely in the AOR zone. And that chant style chorus is gonna be loved by a live audience. The title song 'Feels Like Home' is the first proper ballad the album has to offer. Lighters in the air and the crowd swaying from side to side is all the band will see from the stage. 'Feels Like Home' (the song) really is that infectious. And the final song, the final hurrah, is the up tempo and high energy romp 'End Well'. Rockier than anything else anywhere on the album, 'End Well' brings the album to a sparkling conclusion. One could go so far as to say the album ends well, very well indeed.    
             
Overall, a melodic march of AOR and rock, perfectly blended to make you feel good.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Edge Of The Blade    
             
             
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