Vega: Only Human (Frontiers)

British melodic rockers Vega are back with their fifth album, titled Only Human. Vega never seems to get the kind of attention bands like H.E.A.T and Eclipse get, but they’ve really emerged as one of the better bands in the modern melodic rock scene. Only Human simply reinforces that. And hey, they’ve got a good-looking cover image for once. As good as Who We Are was, that cartoon cover was hard to overlook. Only Human’s image is way more striking, though it does feel like an unintentional nod to the new Avengers: Infinity War film.

Only Human is very much in line with Vega’s previous albums. The Martin brothers, alongside vocalist Nick Workman, guitarists Marcus Thurston and Mikey Kew, and drummer Martin Hutchinson, have a well-defined style that combines a clear appreciation for the classic AOR sounds of Def Leppard, Harem Scarem and Loverboy with a modern melodic rock edge. The songs are very melodic, but the hooks aren’t over the top, and Workman’s warm, steady vocals are just as effective as those melodies.

This is an album with huge crossover potential, and it seems like the songs were written deliberately with that in mind. Like a modern Bon Jovi album, only good. Only Human is the kind of album you’d slip into a playlist with more recognizable mainstream artists to see how people react. The catchiness of “Let’s Have Fun Tonight” and “All Over Now,” the rocking punch of “Last Man Standing” “Only Human” and “Gravity” and the emotional impact of “Worth Dying For” have the potential to convert a lot of new fans.

Only Human is another in a steady line of very well-executed, highly enjoyable melodic rock albums from Vega. Song for song it doesn’t bring quite the same instant satisfaction that Who We Are did, but it’s definitely an album that pays off more and more with repeat listens. If you’re already a Vega fan, you’re going to enjoy this one. And if you aren’t (yet) a fan but are into bands like Loverboy, Harem Scarem, Eclipse, One Desire and Def Leppard, Only Human should make you a believer.