Fury Weekend - Afterglow (2023)

Presenting ‘New to GRTR!’ each week for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio I have become aware of the increasing number of bands combining electronica and rock. I have to say the FiXT label has much to answer for (in a good way).

Fury Weekend is essentially Belarus-based Ars Nikonov and on this album he’s combined forces with a number of different artists working in the synthwave/alt-rock/electronica genre. It all hangs together well.

If you like retro eighties sounds with the synth all powerful, great rhythms, and the occasional rock guitar, this is for you. And before you hesitate, it’s actually very soulful and instantly likeable.

The opener ‘Delirious’, a former station power play, hooks you right in and could have been a Johnny Hates Jazz outtake. It features label mates The Anix.

Hot on its heels is ‘Dangerous’ featuring PRIZM and a female vocal, very synth-wavey and very cool.

Next up ‘Soul Survivor’ (with synth-pop legend Ollie Wride) is funky with Prince-like undertones but a really good chorus too.

At times the album evokes some sub-Terminator soundtrack fused with Enigma (remember them?) And there may be read across because Enigma’s Michael Cretu produced the German artist Sandra who is represented here with ‘Maria Magdalena’. This time it’s interpreted by King Protea, with a synth-pop female vocal. It has a rather appealing vibe.

There’s an indie vibe on ‘Sad Boy’ (featuring Nouveau Arcade) that brings to mind a lighter Depeche Mode whilst ‘Dancing Tonight’ (featuring Maxthor) reminds of Go West and that great vocalist Peter Cox. ‘Velvet Rain’ is another powerful track, this time with the metal band Ravdina.

A couple of instrumentals are worthy too which gives Nikonov free rein, ‘Lady Cocktail’ and closer ‘Into The Utopia’ likely to appeal to fans of cult band The Midnight.

Mostly the album transcends the usual clichés that sometimes affect synth-pop music and synthwave in general. This can be your new guilty pleasure. The summer never sounded so good. ~ Review by David Randall