91 Suite - Back In The Game (2022)

Back in the Game has had to wait two years, for the worst of the pandemic to pass, to be born, and to be presented. Maybe that’s why it has grown and was polished as is made up of fourteen songs of enormous quality. The Spaniards from the city of Murcia on the South East coast manage to deliver a very highly rated product in the AOR landscape. They don’t sound like amateurs and have a keen chemistry that makes their music very fluid and gel smoothly, featuring all your trademarks of a seasonsed AOR/Melodic rock outfit.

Starting All Over, first birthed as an EP in 2019 kicks things off and the guitars, excellently wrapped by the rhythmic base and the keyboards, captivate us. Another standout tune comes via “Nothing Left for Us”, featuring some nostalgia and class as a romantic theme. The genre of AOR can be hit or miss to some, especially given that the style can often sound too redundant and like any style or genre, monotony and staleness can affect the listening experience. But overall the band has improved on their EP and now delivered a very polished record.

“All for Love” is an energetic rocker with guitars and drums more present than ever. The virtuoso touches of guitar player Ivan González stand out, while vocalist Jesus Espín and the keyboards finish the job. Excellent. Back in the Game continues with “Sunrise of Your Love”; a song of Melodic rock in one cohesive effort by all members involved. In this case it boosts a rhythmic and cheerful cut that leans toward the stanzas and choruses loaded with passion.

With “Reach Higher”, the band changes the third to a more serious cut, with beautiful keyboards adorning the verses and an impressive force. The chorus, in which the main voice is answered by the choirs, gives prominence to the rhythmic base and an enormous guitar and keyboard solo adds diverse variation. Another top cut on the record. “Fuck Me Up” (A curious song title) picks up the pace and accelerates the rhythm, with its total riff, its stanzas, polished by the best of Jesus Espín’s voice, and its refrain also screams of top prime cut on the album.

And, if all that was said was not enough, the version “Nothing I Wouldn’t Do For You” features none other than guest vocalist Robin Beck, who joins the Spaniards, making it clear that 91 Suite’s music expands overseas and performing excellently, together with Jesús Espín, a great song that puts a beautiful final touch to Back in the Game.

Excellent epilogue for a gem of melodic rock with capital letters, one that has remained on consistent listening rotation the last few weeks. A top pick for album of the year for sure.