FRONT ROW WARRIORS
Running Out Of Time
ROAR
“Running Out Of Time” is the superb sophomore release from Stuttgart based, German hard rock band FRONT ROW WARRIORS who were formed back in 2019. Following on from their award winning and totally banging 2023 debut “Wheel Of Fortune” the band certainly have a lot to live up to with this second studio outing.
FRONT ROW WARRIORS play an irresistible blend of 90s melodic metal, 80s hard rock with a nice healthy sprinkling of AOR to create an enjoyable retro infused gem of a sound that is just as relevant today as it has ever been. “Running Out Of Time’s” cool cross-genre mix has deep multi-generational appeal making this album and FRONT ROW WARRIORS very hot property in the list of upcoming releases.
For those of you who, like me, long for a return to the glorious years of the carefree 80s there are wonderful tracks like “New Horizons” or “The Holy” where you simply won’t be able to resist either singing along to the catchy earworm choruses or dusting off your trusty old air guitar and joining the band for those wicked solos.
Title track “Running Out Of Time” and the autobiographical “Front Row Warriors” are both good old-fashioned storytelling with that authentic old school aura around them. These lovely songs will sail wonderfully close to your heart, stirring up your emotions and getting that blood pumping through your veins. Rock truly is the elixir of life!
If you want something a little harder ‘n’ heavier then look no further than the powerfully melodic tune “Rise Against” or the equally epic choral harmonies of “Don’t Think The Night Is Over.” With its varying tempo and deliciously dexterous hooks “Cast A Spell” does exactly that whereas the pedal is placed firmly to the metal for the wickedly fast opener “Turn The Tide” where FRONT ROW WARRIORS make a bold statement of intent right from the off.
No hard rock album would ever be complete without a decent ballad and on that score “Seems Like Paradise” is an absolute classic. A slow burn acoustic opening steadily builds up in intensity to a stunning southern rock style finale.
Talking of classics, there is also the bonus of an excellent FRONT ROW WARRIORS‘ interpretation of the legendary Benetar/Giraldo tune “Heartbreaker” showing that some songs simply don’t ever age and maybe like a fine wine even get better over time.
“Running Out Of Time” is hard rock played exactly as it should be! It’s an exciting ride from start to finish with plenty of good clean fun along the way, all of which leads to making it a completely awesome listen. Whether you’re lying by the pool, cooking a BBQ or having some drinks with friends, “Running Out Of Time” will bring a beaming smile to your face as FRONT ROW WARRIORS add a little bit of sunshine to your life.
So, if you are looking for a feel-good album for the summer to remind you of why you love this genre so much, this is it! Highly recommended.
Mark Waight