One Desire have two great big powerful Melodic Rock albums behind them and we’re just getting ready it seemed to take on the world when we were plunged into the pandemic. This is if you like is the live album that documents what we’ve all been missing out on.
If you want me to be more specific then just push play on opener ‘Shadowman’ and you’ll realise that these guys are right up there with the best of new European Hard Rockers like Eclipse and H.E.A.T. – both of whom they’ve played with live pre-pandemic. Songs like ‘Apologise’ are just so well written and tracks like ‘Down and Dirty’ have more AOR in their veins than you might imagine. Sonically for a live album this sounds pretty spotless.
Deeper in the wonderfully anthemic ‘Heroes’ will have you singing along like you’re eighteen again! (Unless of course you are then just ignore the ‘again’ bit). Honestly though if you are of a certain age and loved your Melodic Rock back in the day then these guys are just as good as the bands you loved back then. ‘Godsent Exstasy’ is similarly class and the well heeled ballad ‘This is Where the Heartbreak Begins’ works well in the live setting.
The only slight surprise for me is that that ballad is backed instantly with another slow song in ‘Only When I Breathe’, and then inexplicably with a third in ‘Falling Apart.’ It is as you might imagine just a little too much of a lull to inject mid-set. And you can imagine the sparse audience that gathered together for the recording in October 2020 at the On The Rocks Club in Helsinki, getting a little too relaxed. It’s my only complain here and to be honest it’s not too much of one…
We’re back alive and kicking for ‘After You’re Gone’ with its smooth melodies and drive of and the equally lush ‘Whenever I’m Dreaming’ before ‘Hurt’ blows the roof off and the keyboard driven ‘Buried Alive’ closes (or should we say, almost closes as after a few seconds an uncredited ‘Battlefield of Love’ kick in). This is the album that proves that these guys can deliver in the live setting the wonderful songs they’ve laid down on their two essential albums so far. One Desire may have been largely robbed of playing ‘Midnight Empire’ live but whilst we wait for live music to roar back, this reminds you why it’s just so essential to us all.
8/10