Can I be honest? I’m always of the belief that someone, somewhere, knows more about every band than I do — and in the case of Silent Running, that’s certainly true. I’ll hold my hands up: before Northstar, I’d never heard of them.
A quick bit of digging tells me they were one of Ireland’s biggest bands in the 1980s, before things fell apart and they faded away. But honestly, none of that matters as much as the fact that Northstar is their first album in 30 years — and it’s absolutely superb.
“This Is My City Tonight” sets the tone. It’s the sort of stadium rock anthem that hits with blue-collar grit and widescreen ambition — the kind of thing that makes you want to believe. If only Bon Jovi had written something like this instead of the dull, lifeless stuff they’ve been putting out recently.
“Hit And Run” adds a more pop-tinged edge without losing any class, and there’s a definite mid-’90s U2 feel about “You And Me Against The World.” “State Of Mind” sounds absolutely massive, full of defiance and texture, while “Shooting Star” strides in with swagger and self-belief.
“Seventh Wave” is evocative and dreamlike, almost cinematic, and “Rose From A Stone” is where the band deliver the line that gives the album its name — a moment that feels heartfelt and earned. It’s a song that could have come straight from the Simple Minds – former touring partners – playbook circa 1989, complete with an emotional vocal that makes you want to reach for the sky.
“Faith Healer” and “Don’t Look Down” keep the momentum up, both packed with that balance of melody and muscle that defined the best of the era they came from. Then there’s closer “The Walking Wounded,” which kicks off with a burst of rock ’n’ roll energy before settling into something powerful and reflective — the sound of a band who’ve been through the wars and come out shining.
After three decades away, Silent Running have returned with purpose. Northstar isn’t just a comeback — it’s a statement. Proof that the fire still burns, and that some bands never really fade. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another 30 years for the next one.
