Returning after their celebrated debut in 2021 with The Reckoning, the powerhouse duo of Netta Laurenne (Smackbound) and Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) are back with Falling Through Stars. Much like said debut, Falling Through Stars works to allow the pair to compliment each other instead of a tug of war, as they move through a variety of different styles of tracks. In short, if you enjoyed The Reckoning, you are definitely going to enjoy what they have accomplished on this second effort.
Rock, metal, ballads, bangers, it’s all here as you move through Falling Through Stars. They jump right into the heavier stuff at the start of the album with the title track and “Damned.” More of a tempered opening, the title track oozes with that classic metal mid-tempo stomp, rife with plenty of swagger and attitude. It sets the tone nicely for “Damned” to ramp up the intensity for a full-on classic metal (read: NWOBHM) style romp that digs in with both claws and a hook-filled chorus. “To the Dark” then swings into more modern, and rock-driven sounds, blurring that ’80s hard rock with more modern sensibilities and a massively catchy chorus that you’ll be hard-pressed to not want to sing-a-long after the first listen. After that rush, “All for Sale” marks the first ballad on the album. It’s acoustic from start to finish, and it’s a treat to hear both Laurenne and Louhimo hit such emotional tones together as it really does a great job of emphasizing their voices.
The remainder of the songs fall into one of the above categories, but that’s not to diminish their sheer fun factor. “The Cradle” has one of the strongest choruses on the album, balancing a nice line between beauty and full-on rocking. “Let the Light Be Free” differs in that it’s quite a slow burn of a song and takes a bit to get to 100% heaviness, and stands apart a bit due to that. “Loud and Clear” operates as a genuine ’80s hard rock ballad with all of it’s trimmings, and the added bonus of Laurenne and Louhimo’s wonderfully entangled vocals. “Wait” feels like the crew had a solid discussion with The Night Flight Orchestra about making an ’80s style rock anthem, and it’s a really fun send-off before the quiet and serene ending of “David Bowie & Clyde.”
Falling Through Stars rocks and rolls it’s way from start to finish. Fans of either vocalist are the target audience for this fun time, and no one is going to walk away disappointed. Laurenne and Louhimo make an excellent pair as vocalists, and it’s simply a delight to hear them join forces through another varied and engaging offering.