British progressive melodic rock band ATLAS return with their third studio album Built To Last, to be released by Metalapolis Records on Friday 20th October, but ahead of that and out now is new single ‘Just Like That’.
“‘Just Like That‘ is heavily inspired by our love for 80s music,” said James Thorley, the founding member and keyboard player of ATLAS. “It’s a traditional AOR song in terms of the theme, but we placed a spin on the perspective as it deals with the outcome of a failed relationship and facing those consequences head on.
“Musically it’s driven by the guitar and synth and features a hook which is reminiscent of the style that fans will expect from ATLAS. The chorus is huge and layered with Toto-esque harmonies and it’s all topped off with an indulgence of melody from Howie Little’s guitar solo.”
With a frontline vocal attack, the song is a catchy earworm but when you listen more seriously the musical melody turns out to be quite a tricky involved piece of work
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer by clicking here, you can check out the lyric video right her at RAMzine.
Previously, the band issued ‘You’re Not Alone’ as a single and Thorley commented thus: “‘You’re Not Alone’ was one of the first songs written for the album. It’s about coming out of lockdown and overcoming difficulties, depression, and the general unknown that most of us felt during that time. It’s got a radio friendly approach, but we didn’t hold back with the big anthemic chorus.
With crushing guitars, big screams and wide harmonies, there are moments of introspection followed by wellbeing anthemic cries of hope, pretty much purpose built for the times we live in. you can check that out yourselves by watching the official music video right here at RAMzine.
That single is also available from Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer by clicking here.
Thorley formed ATLAS in 2017 with the intention to create signature music that focused its roots around the 80s AOR, prog, and melodic rock genre, whilst delving into other areas of modern hard rock, and metal. The line-up is completed by Craig Wells (Lead vocals), Howie Little(Lead guitars), Chris Redfearn (bass guitar), and Ryan Briggs (drums).
To date, ATLAS has released two studio albums through the European label AOR Heaven. Their second album, Parallel Love, charted in Japan at #36 and debuted in the Top 10 Amazon Classic Rock Albums Chart on release week. They have toured the UK sharing the stage with The Quireboys, Eric Martin (Mr Big), FM, Vega, Big Country, and Praying Mantis.
Distributed by SPV, Built To Last is said to be a continued evolution of the band’s unique progressive AOR sound that builds on themes of survival, hope and overcoming hardships. It is the result of several years of refined songcraft, featuring polished arrangements, shredding guitar hooks, massive choruses, and soaring vocals.
Tracks featured on Built To Last are: ‘All Or Nothing’, ‘You’re Not Alone’, ‘One More Night’, ‘Another Heartbreak’, ‘Tears’, ‘Unfamiliar Love’, ‘Just Like That’, ‘Chasing Portraits I: Lonely Hearts’, ‘Chasing Portraits II: Closer To The Picture’, ‘Chasing Portraits III: Painted Memories’, ‘Bury A Lie’ and ‘Best Is Yet To Come’.
You can pre-order the album here.
You can also check out the video to the first single off the album, ‘All Or Nothing’, and stream it here.
“‘All or Nothing’ was written with an album opener in mind,” declared the band. “We wanted to write a track that had a lot of energy, heavy but still having melodic elements, and with a huge hooky chorus. We wanted to represent elements of the whole album in one song, which was a challenge, but we always love to rise to a challenge!
Harrowing orchestrated keyboards are met by a heavy chugging guitar, presaging a do-or-die AOR vocal plea with hookline chorus, that charismatically take a more gang-like chanted attitude each time it comes round again. Amid this, just prior to the song tipping into the three minute mark, a guitar sustains then enigmatically shreds out a brief but tasty solo. But, listen for yourselves…
