Sometimes you suspect an album title has been picked simply because it sounds good. In Frontline’s case, “Rebirth” means exactly what it says.
Following the passing of guitarist and songwriter Robby Böbel in 2022, this comeback carries a considerable weight. Original singer Stephan Kämmerer is joined by new guitarist and producer Christian Mühlroth, and together they face the task of honouring what came before while finding a way forward.
From the very get-go of “Burning Horizon”, though, you are firmly into AOR territory. Think Journey, then stop thinking. If you don’t like the opener, you don’t like this music. It’s as simple as that.
There’s something irresistible about “Blacktop Parachute”, frankly. Almost despite yourself, you find yourself swept along. You know where it’s going, you know what’s coming, and you end up enjoying every second anyway.
“After You’re Gone” offers a reminder that you’re only ever a heartbeat away from a ballad on records like this, aren’t you? And yes, you’ve heard something like “Two Tickets To The Afterglow” a million times, but so what? Familiarity is part of the pleasure when the songs are delivered with this much conviction.
“Boulevard Echo” has that ability to make everything sound epic, while “Burning Shadows” proudly soars. There’s no embarrassment about any of this, nor should there be. Frontline understand precisely what makes this music work.
As ever, the ballads and the keys almost define the sound, and “One Life One Love” embraces that wholeheartedly. “Stone And Feather”, meanwhile, deals in expertly done choruses and stays just the right side of schmaltz. There’s an art to getting that balance right, and they’ve clearly mastered it.
You might be tempted to suggest that “Shattered Glass Dreams” offers more of the same, except the lyrics dig a little deeper. Then “Heart On The Dashboard” supplies what surely amounts to the mission statement for the whole thing: “The future’s just a road we’re meant to drive with the windows down.”
Well, quite. Enjoy the music with the wind blowing through your hair, heading down some ocean highway. The way this stuff was intended to be heard.
I’ve always been a sucker for songs that start with a solo, and “Burning The Distance” proves why. “White Line Miracle” is happy to be mid-paced, carrying that sense of heading home, before “Back To The Bright” adds energy and a healthy dose of sleaze in the guitar.
By the time “Arc Of Lightning” arrives, the overriding thought is that you seldom hear AOR delivered with this much class. That applies to the whole record.
Returning after the loss of such a prominent member must be daunting. There’s a legacy to consider, an emotional connection to preserve, and the challenge of giving a new version of the band room to establish itself.
Frontline have met that challenge with songs that understand their past and sound excited about their future. “Rebirth” is a fitting title, and a thoroughly enjoyable record.
Rating: 8/10
