The Western Front’s Eureka is one of those records with a story that almost threatens to overwhelm the music.
Long story short: back in the early 1980s, the guitar player in the greatest hard rock band ever was at a loose end. Scott Gorham had watched his time in Thin Lizzy come to an end and was approached by old friends, Marty Walsh excitedly talking about a project they were working on.
They rounded up some of the finest session players around and made an album.
Then, thanks to some major-label nonsense, it sat gathering dust on a shelf for over 40 years. Until, that is, a Swedish record executive heard a couple of tracks, Steve Lukather got involved in the tale and, finally, here we are.
It sounds like one of those local news stories where some bloke finds a first edition of George Orwell’s 1984 in his loft. Except perhaps the more remarkable thing is this: how did a collection featuring Gorham, Marty Walsh, Darrell Verdusco, Richard “Moon” Calhoun, Derek Bergmann and Dennis O’Donnell not get released in the first place?
“The Law Of The Jungle” provides the immediate evidence for the prosecution. There’s more than a touch of Rush about it, but this is unmistakably 1980s melodic rock. And make no mistake, it is very good indeed.
“Set Me Free” goes looking for the “rhythm of a Saturday night”, but this is as much about the harmonies and Calhoun’s superb voice as it is the guitars – although the solo is absolute class.
You can tell Eureka was made between 1983 and 1984 because “1000 Nights Away” sounds like one of those classic AOR records from the period. Bergmann’s synth work is the star of this particular show, while Gorham clearly enjoys himself on the more muscular “Just Go”.
“If I’m The One” is simply a classic-sounding melodic rock song that could have worked in almost any era. Hell, Frontiers Records still release about three albums a month that sound like this.
“Rain”, meanwhile, was one spot on the Footloose soundtrack away from going gold.
That’s the thing with Eureka. The chug, energy and songwriting on “Chain Of Light” represent the full package. It’s a party song, certainly, but one carrying a message of positivity too, while “Danger” is the kind of polished, hook-filled rocker that Lukather himself built a career on.
Every song here seems to have something that raises it above the pack. On “Heartland” it’s the magnificent solo, although the chorus isn’t too far behind.
“I Would Rather Be Lonely” has grandiose intent, but it relishes the break-up rather than wallowing in it. Where ASIA, Journey or any number of their contemporaries might have turned the idea into a power ballad, The Western Front never seem remotely interested in doing so.
“Man To Man” is arguably the highlight of the record, precisely because it feels like the antithesis of all that overly sweet, syrupy AOR that gave the genre a bad name.
Then “This Is War” offers one last message of defiance and hope. If it’s us against the world, it reasons, then we’ll win.
This should have been played in arenas.
Perhaps Eureka isn’t quite worthy of the near-mythical status it gained simply by remaining unreleased for four decades. Very few records could live up to that kind of legend.
Nonetheless, The Western Front unquestionably deserve their Eureka moment.
RATING: 8/10
