From their record label’s website, “AOR/Melodic rockers STREETLIGHT are thrilled to announce the release of their new studio album “Night Vision,” out on March 14th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. Vocalist Johannes Häger comments on the new album, by saying: “It’s been such a joy for us to record our sophomore album “Night Vision.” One could say that the stakes are higher now compared to the debut “Ignition,” but we felt there are still many untrodden paths for Streetlight, both musically but of course also career wise. We’re still looking back at the AOR heydays, but we’re not going back.”

AOR has an interesting history. Assumingly created in the USA, with bands like JOURNEY and BOSTON, its heyday was in the 1980’s, when I was a teenager. I grew up with AOR which transitioned to Glam Metal in the early part of the decade. There were so many Glam Metal bands by the turn of the 1990’s that the market became oversaturated with then. Enter Grunge, which nearly killed the genre altogether, at least in the USA. But the genre continued to flourish overseas, particularly in Sweden. Today, it flourishes again, enjoying a rebirth of sorts. Let’s get to some of the highlights of STREETLIGHT to see how they compare with this modern rebirth.

The leading song, “Long-Distance Runner, has a gentle combination of guitars, keyboards and strong vocals, and a big, punchy chorus, reminding me of ASIA, “Captured in the Night” has a stronger riff, still augmented with keyboards, and lots of vocal harmonies, “Learn to Love Again” has that big power ballad sound again that builds with keyboards and guitars, and crescendos into another towering, catchy chorus, “Leanna” has a sultry, bluesy swing to it with a punchy chorus, “Fly with Eagles” has a slower, and more tender touch, “Where Did Love Go” is another gentle, emotional song that really comes alive in the chorus, and “End Game” closes the album with a flurry of keyboards and guitars.

Overall, the only thing questionable about the album is the coverart, because the music is excellent. It takes me back to the 1980’s when bands knew how to deliver a chorus, an art that seems to be missing from a lot of music these days. The music is expertly balanced with guitars and keyboards and the vocals are outstanding as well.