The Brink: Nowhere To Run (Frontiers, 2019)

Between the untimely demise of Bigfoot and whatever the hell is going on with Inglorious, I was tempted to write off the British melodic hard rock scene. Then newcomers The Brink arrived and knocked me off my feet with their very impressive debut album Nowhere To Run.

Nowhere To Run is one of those albums that just gets everything right. The Brink channels an old school melodic hard rock spirit without sounding obviously retro. There’s a vitality and energy here that’s anything but dated. The album is jam-packed with catchy hooks and infectious melodies, like a British version of Crashdiet or Santa Cruz, and the songs are very easy to sing along to, especially when those backing vocal harmonies kick in.

“Are You With Me” and the ballad “Save Goodbye” are the first two singles from the album, and as good as they are the opening trio of “Little Janie,” “Break These Chains” and “Never Again” are the absolute best songs on Nowhere To Run. There isn’t a dud to be found here though, which is impressive given the album has 15 songs.

I really hope this album doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. The Brink is not another throwaway mashup project. They’re a band with a fantastic sound and a ton of potential. Old school, new school…if you like rock n’ roll bands, especially Crashdiet, Eclipse, Casablanca, Electric Angels and Bigfoot, you’re going to love The Brink.