Canadian melodic rock band Honeymoon Suite is set to release their new studio album ‘Alive’ on February 16, 2024, via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by notable Canadian producer Mike Krompass, whose songwriting and production credits include artists like Meghan Trainor, Steven Tyler, Theory of a Dead Man and Smash Mouth, ‘Alive’ is a tight, succinct 10 track album full of 80s melodic joy and a bit of 90s muscle that will delight ageing rockers and younger converts everywhere.
Honeymoon Suite traces its roots back to 1981 when lead vocalist and guitarist Johnnie Dee founded the group in Niagara Falls, Ontario. After the departure of the original lead guitarist, Derry Grehan, the band underwent a transformation, recruiting Dave Betts on drums, Ray Coburn on keys, and Gary Lalonde on bass. This revamped lineup hit the road, performing tirelessly and crafting songs in the hopes of securing a record deal. In 1983, their breakthrough came when they won a contest organised by Toronto rock station Q107 with a demo of ‘New Girl Now,’ leading to a multi-album deal with WEA Canada.
The band’s self-titled debut album, released in July 1984, marked the beginning of their meteoric rise to success. Fueled by massive airplay and multiple videos on MTV and MuchMusic, the album surpassed 300,000 units sold in Canada alone. Over the years, Honeymoon Suite has released seven studio albums, achieving over 1 million units sold worldwide. The band’s success is underscored by a string of hit singles, including classics like ‘New Girl Now,’ ‘Burning In Love,’ ‘Wave Babies,’ ‘Stay In the Light,’ ‘Feel It Again,’ and ‘What Does It Take.’
Their accolades include a Canadian Juno for Group of the Year in 1986, triple platinum sales in Canada for their first three albums, and a platinum-selling greatest hits CD titled ‘The Singles.’ With a rich history of touring alongside renowned acts like ZZTop, Heart, Bryan Adams, and many more, Honeymoon Suite’s enduring impact on the rock scene remains evident. In the early 2000s, the original lineup of Johnnie, Derry, Gary, and Dave reunited, welcoming keyboard player Peter Nunn. In 2020, armed with a new collection of original songs, the band collaborated with Canadian producer/songwriter Mike Krompass, resulting in the production of ‘Alive’, their eighth studio album.
The opening track, ‘Alive,’ sets the tone with its unique rhythm and cadence, offering a refreshing take on melodic rock. There’s an uplifting 80s AOR style here that artists like Strangeways and John Waite made their own back in the day. It is refreshing to hear in these days when melodic rock has decamped to Europe and become all about frantic double bass drums. It’s followed by ‘Find What You’re Looking For,’ a hard-hitting anthem designed for stadiums, complete with wailing guitars and a memorable chorus. Throw in a time change and a nifty guitar solo and you got all the makings of a classic.
‘Done Doin Me’ emerges as a standout track, exuding groovy rhythms and swagger reminiscent of Aerosmith jamming with Def Leppard. It’s an uplifting, empowering song about staying true to your own ideals: hard rock done the right way – with a bunch of grit, soaring melodies and some guitar histrionics. ‘Not Afraid to Fall,’ meanwhile, offers a lighter, poppier vibe with acoustic elements that evolve into heavier choruses. The album continues to impress with tracks like ‘Tell Me What You Want,’ which channels the sonic nostalgia of the 80s and plays with all the tropes of the hard rock and AOR genres before adding a little Pop sheen around the edges. ‘Give It All,’ meanwhile, comes across as a unique mix of Dokken jamming with Diving for Pearls: it’s an intriguing mix that works really well. Heavy where it needs to be and lighter where it doesn’t, blending searing guitar riffs with lighter, melodic choruses.
The album’s big ballad, ‘Love Comes’ delivers classic rock balladry at its finest, evoking comparisons to Def Leppard’s iconic ‘Love Bites’. Classic, clean vocals and soaring melodies make this track sound like a quintessential 80s hard rock ballad – throw in a short but searing guitar solo and you’ve pretty much nailed the rock ballad in all its glory. ‘Livin Out Loud,’ meanwhile explodes in a wave of gang vocals and guitars that plays like Def Leppard again in a kind of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ way. There’s lots going on here based around the ‘in the blink of an eye’ mantra that, again, is unique and refreshing to hear in the genre right now.
As the album draws to a close with ‘Doesn’t Feel That Way,’ Honeymoon Suite showcase their versatility with a quieter, reflective track that would have been a hit single in the 80s. With its anthemic chorus and vivid imagery, it’s a fitting conclusion to a journey through rock nostalgia done in a way that feels fresh again after two decades of the genre being based in Italy, Germany and Sweden. This is North America planting its flag back in the sand and saying to all the newcomers and upstarts, ‘Come at me, bro!’
‘Alive’ by Honeymoon Suite is a testament to the band’s enduring talent and ability to capture the spirit of 80s rock while infusing it with their own unique style. Fans of classic AOR and hard rock will find much to love in this album, which pays homage to the past while paving a way for the future of the genre as well.
Tracklist: 1. Alive 2. Find What You’re Looking For 3. Done Doin’ Me 4. Not Afraid to Fall 5. Tell Me What You Want 6. Give it All 7. Love Comes 8. Broken 9. Livin Out Loud 10. Doesn’t Feel That Way Release Date: 16th February Record Label: Frontiers Buy ‘Alive’ right now
This article contains an affiliate link. Purchases through this link may result in us earning a commission.
