Review Summary: A strong seventies rock foundation being taken to the next level
Time Rift’s sophomore album is a direct followup to 2020’s Rock Eternal, driven by similar seventies heavy rock aspirations. However, there’s been a couple shuffles to the lineup as bandleader Justin Haye opts for a different kind of double duty, playing both guitar and bass but opening up the vocal duties to new lead singer Domino Monet. It’s a bold move that adds some extra dimension to an already strong foundation, mixing some Heart in with the established Thin Lizzy along with comparisons to contemporaries in groups like Christian Mistress, Lucifer, and The Riven.
This upgrade gives the musicianship a lot of extra character. Domino proves to be an incredibly charismatic vocalist with a lot of conviction bolstered by an ethereal presence in the mix. The guitars are just as vibrant, playing off the bouncy rhythms and injecting earthy tones and smooth leads. Things never get too flashy or overtly acrobatic, but the enthusiasm is contagious.
And with nine tracks running just over a half hour, the energy is relentless but with the sort of varied songwriting that leaves no room for bull***. If anything, I find myself thinking that the minute-plus breather on “Into The Stillness” would’ve been even better with a bit more length to it. Fortunately it’s never an issue as tracks like the opening “I Am (The Spear)” and “The Hunter” set up the sort of driving hard rockers that sees its heaviest climax with “Dancing In The Sun” while “Follow Tomorrow” is an infectious mid-tempo strut with an especially tight chorus.
While In Flight may be my first exposure to Time Rift, I’ve gleaned enough to know how much potential this album has to take them to the next level. The Portland group already had promise before but the lineup changes do well to make their seventies rock style even more potent and their songwriting that much more engaging. It’s a snappy listen but one that manages to feel enough in itself while inviting a lot of replay value. If you’ve ever been curious about what a female-fronted Thin Lizzy would sound like, you’d do well in checking this out.
