Nitrite: Real World (MelodicRock)

Nitrite: (noun) /ni-trite/ a salt of nitrous acid. It’s literally used to preserve meat. God help me, Rust n’ Rage was a better band name. I get it, “night rite” or “night right,” but still, it’s kind of dumb.

OK, now that I got that out of the way I can focus on why it is you should give this oddly-named band a listen. It’s a new British melodic rock band and it features some familiar names, including vocalist Joss Mennen (Zinatra), guitarist/keyboardist Nick Hogg, guitarist/bassist Rob Wylde (Tigertailz, Midnite City) and drummer Pete Newdeck (Midnite City, Eden’s Curse). You can’t really ignore a lineup like that, and the fact that Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) mastered the album is the icing on the cake.

Another reason to give this band’s debut album Real World a listen is that it’s really freaking good. Like a lot of these new bands, they show an obvious appreciation for the classic ’80s and early ’90s melodic rock sound, bowing at the altar of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Treat and Danger Danger. Real World is loaded with hook-heavy rockers, melodic mid-tempo tracks that are perfect for singing along, and even a bic-flicking ballad. The melodies are beyond catchy, the production is great and the vocals are really strong and steady throughout. Mennen reminds me a bit of White Widdow’s Jules Millis, and he suits this kind of throwback melodic rock so well.

Real World is really strong from front to back, but it does have its highlights. “Hot Summer Nights” is about as good a party rock anthem as you’ll find this side of 1991, and “Dangerous” and “Crazy Like You” definitely sink their hooks in. Closing number “I’ll Be There” has a poppier vibe (WET meets Simple Minds maybe?), but it’s really effective.

I still think they need a better band name, but they certainly don’t need a better sound. Real World is a very strong example of a new band paying tribute to a classic sound. Fans of White Widdow, Houston, Work of Art, Midnite City and even Magic Dance will find a lot to love here.