From their EPK, "ROCKETT LOVE is a Hard Rock band from Sweden that has been making waves in the music industry since their formation in 2015. They have gained good reputation due to their high-energy live shows and their catchy, guitar-driven sound. "Galactic Circus" is set to be released on September 22nd, 2023 on Pride & Joy Music promises to become an exciting addition to the group's discography, featuring a collection of hard-hitting rock tracks that showcase the band's skill and creativity." Who in their right mind doesn't fancy a bit of AOR? This guy does, because it's a bridge to my past. Let's get to the music before we walk down memory lane. The album has 11 songs.

"Never Look Back" is first. It opens with a mid-tempo, crunchy riff and the pipes of a strong front man. The harmonies in the chorus are realty where things are strong however. "Too Much Water Under the Bridge" has a familiar sound in the verses with a simple riff, but again, the band knows how to deliver a chorus. It's very catchy, melodious, and full of harmonies. The guitar solo is also well done. "Running out of Time" has a faster pace and involves some more energy. You can get a sense of how well this music would translate into a live show. In "Easy Come and Easy Go," the verses are a little better, and I love the cowbell. If that doesn't take you back to the glory days of the 80's nothing will. Once again, they really shine in the chorus. "On the Radio" is just that in a nutshell...the kind of song that you would welcome to hear on radio waves. The verses are smooth and easy, with a rocking sway, and the chorus is full of vocal harmonies. This is clearly what the band does best. "Talk To Ya Later" is a cover of THE TUBES. Oh man, this was one of my favorite songs growing up. I love the nod to this cult band, and they do the cover a great service. This was a nice surprise.

"Fly Away" is the slow, power-ballad of sorts on the album. The tones are sad, full of regret, and tug at your heart. "Last Man Standing" opens with a great guitar solo followed by some deep bass thuds. Again, the band delivers great vocal harmonies in the chorus. "Rock and roll warriors until the day we die" they say. Indeed. "The Higher You Rise the Harder You Fall" closes the album. It has rough and tough verses and great vocal harmonies. AOR all but disappeared in the early 90's due to the Grunge travesty in the US. Fans who stopped tracking the genre however didn't realize it moved overseas a decade or so later. Today, there are a ton of bands trying to keep the genre alive. Some do it very well, while others don't, but the hardest part is creating memorable music with melodies that have been done before. What ROCKETT LOVE does best is the vocal harmonies. This is one area where many of their peers fail. But what needs the most work are the verses. The band has plenty of talent and are all great singers. If they could just make the verses more memorable, they would really rise above. Overall, it was an enjoyable album to listen to.