(Melodic Rock/AOR) After Hours - Against The Grain - 2011, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

AFTER HOURS was formed in 1987 by John Francis (vocals), Tim Payne (lead guitar), Martin Walls (bass guitar), Mark Addison (drums) and Rick Young (keyboards). Soon after, the band recorded the album “Take Off”. After a showcase in London's Marquee Club the band's management inked a deal for this record with BMG Ariola based in Munich, Germany. The band was flown out to Germany to do a photo shoot and interviews with magazines prior to the release of “Take Off” in 1988, they also secured a sponsorship deal with Adidas an did photo shoots for them, promoting their new range of sports clothing also called Take off.
From that point on the promotion in Germany, England and Scandinavia was relentless, concerts in England and Scandinavia, Radio interviews and an appearance on Germany's version of top of the pops, finishing the year recording a live concert for Metal Hammers Christmas Party Video in Bochum, Germany. The band then started writing the follow up album but had to look for a new keyboard player, because Rick Young had left. They were put in contact with Andy Nye who had played keyboards for Michael Schenker, he met the band and agreed to join.
AFTER HOURS then embarked on writing the second album. Within a few months the band had gone into Rockfield Studios in Wales and started to demo the new songs. The management at this point had secured a new deal with a record company called Global Satellite based in Munich. Global then took over and wanted the band in Munich, at their studios to record the second album. At this point three of the band members decided to leave, Martin Walls, Mark Addison and Andy Nye. Martin emigrated to Canada, Mark went to university and Andy moved on to another project.
This then left John and Tim to complete the recording of the second album. So with help from the producer, Mal Luker and his staff at the studio, they set about making the self titled album “Afterhours”. This proved very stressful to John and Tim and after a stint recording single ideas for the American market at a recording studio in Chipping Norton, England, They both decided to call it a day. The album was released in 1992.
February 14th 2008. A chance meeting of Martin Walls, Tim Payne and John Francis, materialised into the reformation of AFTER HOURS, after agreeing to write and record a song for old time's sake, it seemed after recording the song it unearthed a new passion in each of them, they wanted to write and record a new album which came from their heart and souls, with no interference from producers, record companies and management.
And so the task of writing and then recording the new ideas started. They invited old friend's, Chris Pope on drums and Sean Mcmenemy on keyboards and guitar to help, and the new AFTER HOURS was born. The new album is called “Against the Grain”. It's a mixture of sounds running through a theme of well put together songs, a strong vocal performance and masterful guitar work. It was recorded at Aubitt Recording Studios in Southampton England. The engineer was Rob Aubrey and the album was co-produced by AFTER HOURS and Rob Aubrey, who the band now fondly regard as their sixth member.
“Against The Grain” will be released on German label AOR Heaven on 29.04.2011 whilst the “Take Off” album was already re-issued in 2010 on AOR Heaven Classix.

Wow, what a strong month for melodic rock label AOR Heaven, first comes along the debut Big Life album featuring Steve Newman, then hot on its heels comes the unexpectedly excellent Against The Grain by the reformed UK AOR-sters After Hours. Now I say unexpected because this is a band that have been defunct for just a little under a quarter of a century with their last release coming in the shape of their debut effort Take Off from 1988! AOR Heaven have also reissued that album and on the strength of Against The Grain, it is an album I'll be investing in sharpish! The After Hours story goes all the way back to 1987, but after that debut release things started to really build for them, with European tours, appearances on German TV and a sponsorship deal with Adidas. However keyboard player Rick Young soon left the band, being replaced by ex Michael Schenker man Andy Nye, but with record labels dragging the band round the world to record album number two After Hours basically disintegrated, although that second release Afterhours did see the light of day in 1992.
So what makes Against The Grain so special? Well choruses to die for is a good start, then add to that superb interplay between guitarist Tim Payne and keyboard/guitar player Sean McMenemy, and an unfussy but sharp rhythm section in the shape of drummer Chris Pope and bassist Martin Wells. The icing on the cake though is the stunning vocal performance of John Francis who has a lived in, but seductive tone that is amazingly versatile and put simply, is a joy to listen to. Style wise Francis is refreshingly hard to tie down, but at varying times throughout this album everyone from Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep), Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot) and Paul Carrack (Mike + The Mechanics) to Kip Winger, Eric Clapton and even Terence Trent D'Arby are brought to mind. If that sounds like a strange mix, then don't worry, it works like a dream!
Basically if you have a soft spot for classy AOR and melodic rock, then After Hours are capable of serving you up some delights, with "Stand Up", "Against The Grain" and "Let It Go" using equal measures of tight riffs, glossy backing vocals and driving keyboards to create some classy, punchy uptempo rock. Francis is immense on all of these tracks and is easily matched by Payne and McMenemy, with the trio also shining on the slower, yet equally memorable "I Need Your Love" and the bluesy "I Want Yesterday". "Eleventh Hour", as its title suggests adds a more mystical air to proceedings and is amongst the strongest moments on what is a universally impressive album and the acoustic version of the same song that closes the album is equally as effective.
For a variety of reasons there are many talented AOR acts from the UK that never really got the acclaim they deserved (FM, Dare and Strangeways to name but three) and now we can add After Hours to that list, hopefully Against The Grain will set the record straight!

#777John Francis - vocals
Tim Payne - lead guitar
Martin Walls - bass
Chris Pope - drums
Sean McMenemy - keys and guitars