"Waiting For The Night" by FROTRESS is another fine blast from the past resurrected by Cult Metal Classic who specialize in bringing us slabs of mighty metal from the vaults. An this is yet another obscure rock gem from, in my humble opinion, the decade of Metal, the 1980's.  born in 83 FORTRESS were active in the LA Sunset Strip scene, supporting the likes of ALCTRAZZ, WARRANT, and POISON, bands still performing today, or would be if not for the bloody pandemic!

Fortress feature the amazing vocals of Ted Heath.  Having just reviewed a later classic disc of Melodic Rock from another of Ted's bands MESHEEN, "A Matter Of Time". "Waiting For The Night" is a definite sign on the roadmap to that polished gem.  A little rougher round the edges and certainly of its decade sonically.  A bit heavier, less layered, and a different dynamic having a Guitar and Keyboard combination rather than the twin guitar approach, but no less Melodic.

First track "Fire Burning In Me" is a perfect example of their rock sound.  Reminiscent of RAINBOW with Joe Lynn Turner on vocals although I think I prefer Ted's delivery.  Great pace and the axe work is flashy enough to stand out.  "When Will The Fighting End" is a-typical of that glitzy 80s keyboard driven Radio friendly upbeat rock so many bands were playing in those halcyon days before Grunge made everything Plaid.  The piano break balanced with the follow guitar solo a really nice touch.

Title track "Waiting For The Night" has a great example of the "parp, parp" synths that so many keyboard wizards of the time used to greater or lesser effect. And again the vocals soar.  Why was Mr. Heath not fronting a stadium filling A.O.R monster, his pipes are as good, if not better, than so many such bands. Them's the breaks I suppose.  Just listen to the slowie "Feel Your Touch", this would have got them lighters out and waiving in any big venue, you know back in he day when you could, and not a mobile phone to be seen, happy days.

Have a listen to "Cycle Of Life". This song is a real curve-ball.  This is Pomp Rock at its best and comes out of left-field to blow you away.  The Staccato rat-a-tat drumming, OTT keys and soaring guitars, and of course that voice, hey its almost Prog!  Pomp Prog! I bet this would have been a blast live. Song of the album for me! And whilst an awfully muddy, bootleg quality recording, the live track "Rock Is My Life (Won't Let Go)" shows they could do it live too.  Strip away the cotton wool sound and this band rocks.  Ted's vocals are a touch swamped in the mix, but you can still hear the class.