The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic II (Nuclear Blast)

Friday, 27th August 2021 By Katarina McGinn

Rating: 9.5/10

What else can really be said about the prolific retro rockers of The Night Flight Orchestra? Their ability to produce addictive classic rock hits on an almost annual basis is uncanny, particularly with the level of polish and joy to them. Aeromantic II, much like it’s predecessor from last year, delivers some ‘instant classics’ from start to finish, hitting the nostalgia button while still propelling the band forward.

Each of the tracks on Aeromantic II is a passionate love letter to the band’s sweet spot of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s without it sounding too dated. Soaring, stuck in your head choruses the first time that you hear them, and rollicking melodies and riffs go hand in and with each track on the album. There’s a smoothness between tracks, much like Aeromantic I, while each one presents its own unique spin and playing field. The driving, synth-driven energy of “How Long” is an instant attention grabber, as it then dives into a glorious chorus that wants nothing more than to be shouted from your car on a late-night road trip. On the other end is that of the more sultry, groovy swaggering of “I Will Try,” where the upbeat, feel good vibes are just too strong to ignore. When it’s followed up by the very danceable Duran Duran-ish “You Belong to the Night,” it provides a massive late album pick-up and builds some great momentum for the big dance number in “White Jeans.” It’s this sort of detail to the tracklisting that really elevates The Night Flight Orchestra. The tracks can stand on their own with ease, but they do an excellent job of building into each other and carrying the overall vibe. Of course, each TNFO album has a doozie of an epic closing number, and “Moonlit Skies” serves to keep raising that bar even at a shorter time frame than many of their final tracks. The potent chorus, playful synths, and emotional notes make for a fitting exit that you’ll want to return to quickly.

Passion and dedication to their version of classic rock results in why The Night Flight Orchestra are the best at what they do. Aeromantic II continues to raise the high bar that the band has set for themselves in providing a listening experience that takes you out of the moment and into a delightful and upbeat paradise of good ole-fashioned rock fun. Hit play and let yourself be swept away!