Voyager – Fearless in Love (Album Review)
Voyager – Fearless In Love
Released: July 14, 2023
Line Up
Danny Estrin // vocals
Simone Dow // guitar
Scott Kay //guitar
Alex Canion // bass
Ashley Doodkorte // drums
Online
It’s an exciting time for Perth band Voyager. Fresh off their ninth-place finish in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest (recap here), the band embarked on a sold out Australian tour (gig review here) ahead of the release of eighth album Fearless in Love. They’ve timed the release beautifully to take advantage of the mainstream press that Eurovision brought them, but there’s a question of whether the new fans that ‘Promise’ has attracted will be into a full LP of synth-prog-metal. After all, ‘Promise’ noticeably turns down the heavy riffs compared to their back catalogue, so Fearless in Love has the delicate job of acknowledging long-time punters and satisfying those looking for a post-Eurovision fix. Thankfully the band is up to the task.
Even though it doesn’t pop up until the album’s second half it is worth reviewing ‘Promise’ first. It’s easily my most streamed song of 2023 and elicits the same sing-a-long in my car that it did when it was released. The energy that Voyager put into on stage in Liverpool rubs off and the guitar solo into the keytar lick still rules. It is quite simply a banger and builds to the final minute where we can get a juicy breakdown and growl from Alex. It’s worth noting it is the same version that has been a single without any additional embellishments. As far as album centrepieces go, it is hard to beat.
Those new to the Voyager world will be asking if there is anything to back up ‘Promise’ and um, deliver on the, uh, promise of that tune. Their Australia Decides 2022 contender ‘Dreamer’ is here as the next track for Eurovision fans. It’s heavier than ‘Promise’ but has another great emotional hook. It builds through the synth but is much quicker to showcase the band’s metal riffs, making it a great bridge between their core sound and synth-pop leanings. The breakdown is more badass than I remember and Danny’s vocals are arguably even bigger. It certainly grabs your attention and holds it for the three minutes.
There’s plenty of album tracks that scratch the 80s synth itch. ‘Ultraviolet’ sounds like a song from a Tom Cruise movie that time forgot with a quick tempo and a drum sound that owes more than a debt to Dire Straits. It’s got some gnarly modern guitar and a screamy cameo from fellow Perth native, Sean Harmanis of Make Them Suffer, who joins the party with an ominous growl. It captures the glorious collision of influences in a way only Voyager can. ‘The Lamenting’ mines similar 80s vibes in a ballad form that serves as a nice change of pace, even if the hook isn’t as memorable as some of the other songs. Likewise ‘Daydream’ is more pop-rock than metal and would be a great single that will appeal to fans of ‘Promise’.
As an album Fearless in Love isn’t so much of a shift from their previous work, but a continued evolution from Colours in the Sun (2019). The fans who have been on the journey with them for twenty years will get a kick out of first track ‘The Best Intentions’ as it drips with spaced-out prog synths and keys. It jumps straight into the most recent single, ‘Prince of Fire’, which is unmistakably a metal song with chunky djent riffs. Their great strength as a band is their ability to create a sonic scene that suits the lyrics, painting a musical picture that implants an image in your head. ‘Prince of Fire’ is a bleak dystopia, particularly when compared to the previously mentioned singles, capturing the solitude of the song’s protagonist. There is a cool interlude though so Danny can get his croon on before the big note.
As far as prog-metal albums go, Voyager have loaded this with anthems. ‘Submarine’ has all the markings of an odd novelty song with a cute riff and big hook. The solo echoes Queen’s Brian May with Simone Dow dropping all sorts of tricky taps and whammy bends. But it’s a little darker than that when it gets to the final stanza and Alex screams that he is “coming up for air”. If there’s another Guardians of the Galaxy movie, this should be the end credits tune.
‘Twisted’ is a more electro take on prog-metal but also has a massive inspirational chorus that will play well live. ‘Listen’ also gets the Queen vibe right with plenty of guitar hero action. (Or as my wife just observed, it sounds a bit like Ghost, which is not a bad thing in my house.) Longtime fans will also get a kick out of the final track ‘Gren (Fearless in Love)’. It’s much more of a traditional prog song with ethereal keys that sound transcendent in that space rock way.
Voyager have successfully walked the tightrope between drawing in new fans from their Eurovision run, while rewarding longtime followers for their devotion. Fearless in Love has enough riffs, synths and hooks to catch the ear of anyone with a passing interest in 80s style rock and metal without ever sounding like a complete vintage act. It is certainly epic and accessible and demands a bigger audience than their recent club tour. I dare say I’ll be singing its praises among the best albums of the year.
Voyager – Fearless In Love Tracklisting:
1. The Best Intentions
2. Prince of Fire
3. Ultraviolet feat. Sean Harmanis of Make Them Suffer
4. Dreamer
5. The Lamenting
6. Submarine
7. Promise
8. Twisted
9. Daydream
10. Listen
11. Gren (Fearless in Love)
Rating: 9 / 10
Fearless in Love is out July 14 via Seasons of Mist. Pre-Order here.
Review by KJ Draven (Twitter and Instagram).