It’s been over a dozen years since I first heard the high energy hard rock, borderline metal of this Chicago band with 2011’s Another Night and in that time they’ve become a go to band when I’m low with their hook laden optimistic against the odds songs. I’ve been lucky enough to go bouncing out into the night after a gig of theirs with my joie de vivre fully topped up. I’ve grown constantly amazed that effectively in the studio this is a one man band, ‘Professor’ Chris Black. As someone once said to me at a gig “if this was the 80s these guys would be superstars. As it is they are, apart from those who know, pretty much the unsung heroes of energy and melody.

So after two career best albums in 2016’s Motivator and 2020’s Hard To Stop, we get Safe On The Other Side. Another clean look to the cover, another chance to get blown away.

‘In The Moonlight’ is just perfect High Spirits. A dancing riff, lots of “wooo-oooh” to the chorus and those fast paced lyrics. As ever the lyrics are a curious blend of heartfelt and seeming to enjoy playing with clichés before either sidestepping them or embracing them.

The first song is always a kind of introduction, a warm up and the second, in this case ‘Til The End Of Time’ is more of a tone setter. It’s Ok. It has a great midsection but somewhere it’s almost like the real high points, that tipping over the edge energy has been smoothed out too much in the mix even though the production mixing and mastering is the same team as always (Black and Dan Swano). It goes pretty much the same for the next couple too.

Now sometimes this happens with High Spirits albums on first listen. I get overwhelmed by the sound and it either sinks into one sound or just doesn’t grab me and then, on subsequent plays I am suddenly reeled in by one lick, one hook and the album simply blossoms.

‘Anything You Need’ though is a fine High Spirits song, full of that reaching vocal sound and the pacey, dancing melody and racing guitar breaks. It’s gorgeous. It’s what you listen to High Spirits for. And then for the next three of songs it all drops back with slower mid paced songs, which they can do so well (check out ‘Voice In The Wind’ of Hard To Stop for just one example) but neither is their best for my money.

‘Memories’, a cover of the Europe song is pretty darned cool though. And closer ‘Good Night’ is probably the best set closer live they’ve done since Motivator’s ‘Thank You’.

Ah, I don’t know. Maybe that three song section will sink in over the months (hey we don’t necessarily stop listening to albums after the review is done, people!)  but at the moment this is not their best. That does not mean however it is even close to being a bad or a dull album; this is High Spirits and they have High Standards that dwarf lesser bands. It’s better than ‘You Are Here’ and close if not better than their debut. I also get the sense that there is no slowing in the enthusiasm of the band, the man, to keep the flame of high energy hard rock burning bright.

If you’re already a fan, it’s essential. If you’re not it’s as good a place to start as any and then pick up the two previous albums.

(7/10 Gizmo)

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https://highspiritsmetal.bandcamp.com/album/safe-on-the-other-side