The Night Flight Orchestra

[DoctorAction]

More great stuff from NFO! I love the keyboards. Not sure it'll quite reach the heights of the last few albums, but still great. Early days yet though. 

[DoctorAction]

A couple more listens in and this is hotting up. It really is a more pop album but such great catchy tunes. The new keyboard player is all sorts of tasty.

[Nekov]

Just listened to the album for the first time. These guys don't disappoint.

[DoctorAction]

Immediate reaction has cooled for me on this one. White Jeans stands out as the only track as fun and great as the last 3 records. And the closing track is cool. The rest is ... satisfactory.

I dunno quite what it is. The keyboard player is great. Nothing sucks, it's just a bit ... OK. It doesn't have the sparkle and joy of the last few. It might be the lyrics. Bit disappointed.

White Jeans is superb though.

[wolfking]

Immediate reaction has cooled for me on this one. White Jeans stands out as the only track as fun and great as the last 3 records. And the closing track is cool. The rest is ... satisfactory.

I dunno quite what it is. The keyboard player is great. Nothing sucks, it's just a bit ... OK. It doesn't have the sparkle and joy of the last few. It might be the lyrics. Bit disappointed.

White Jeans is superb though.

I'm over these guys truthfully.  Come to that conclusion on the last one.  Haven't checked this new one yet.

[Grappler]

I feel the same way.  Just more of the same shtick.  The new album is incredibly boring.

[cramx3]

I've been listening to this more than the new Iron Maiden. Such a fun band. Album is awesome IMO. Catchy songs.

[bluefox4000]

I have to say i'm a fan but the last 2 aeromantic albums have really disappointed me.  I don't like this 80's synth pop direction they've gone.  i like 80's synthpop but not on this band for some reason.  i wish they'd stayed in the harder rock boston/heart/70's toto-ish vibe of the first 2 a little longer.  they went 80's pop too fast and lost me just as fast.

bland boring stuff sadly

[wolfking]

I feel the same way.  Just more of the same shtick.  The new album is incredibly boring.

The first few albums had their own personalities and originality.  Now they've just turned into almost a Frontiers like project producing the same style over and over without any real substance or creativity.  Rehashing the same stuff without much thought it seems.

After the last Soilwork EP, I think this is where they need to focus their energy more full time.

[DoctorAction]

I'm enjoying Zodiac on this album also now, so those last three tracks are working but overall, it's not their best.

Still love the band to pieces. Amazing fun and even more so live. They've been one of my top bands since I discovered Amber Galactic.

The Soilwork comparison is unavoidable and funny how we feel it so differently. I can see there's lots of high quality performances in Soilwork but it doesn't generate any emotional response in me. Not my flavour of metal. NFO, however, have a groove and joyful vibe I can't get anywhere else. That formula of classic rock, disco and pop, pushed through the tight performances of Swedish metal players makes me smile, sing, rock and boogie! 

[Polarbear]

I have to agree that Aeromantic 2 is not their best work..

There is a bunch of songs that I love, and some that I could skip outright. Aeromantic 1 is my favorite album of their's, and this does not reach the high's of that album.

Change, Burn for Me, White Jeans and Amber Through a Window are all awesome! I could do without the likes of Chardonnay Nights and Violent Indigo.

Still love the band, and TNFO music always manages to bring me to good mood!

[DoctorAction]

I really like the Aeromantic album also, but not a fan of the title so thought it was weird that they re-used it with a "II" on the end. I wonder what the decision process behind that was. Seems a bit emblematic of the half-assed nature of the album now.

I like those tracks you mentioned well enough (love White Jeans). Other thoughts:

Violent Indigo is a very flat opener. Like they forgot to add a decent vocal hook. Midnight Marvelous is horrible. Hard to listen to. My least favourite track of their's, potentially. Weird.

Still, onwards and upwards. It might grow on me yet.

[cramx3]

I don't understand the II part either.  I don't hear any relation to the first Aeromantic.  In fact this album sounds quite different to me.  Much more pop and less rock. 

Change, Burn for Me, White Jeans and Amber Through a Window are all awesome! I could do without the likes of Chardonnay Nights and Violent Indigo.

Still love the band, and TNFO music always manages to bring me to good mood!

Basically agree with all of the above.  Amber Through A Window has been getting me going lately. 

[DoctorAction]

I'll spin that one while I work in the morning. I keep going back to single tracks for some reason.

[devieira73]

I really like the Aeromantic album also, but not a fan of the title so thought it was weird that they re-used it with a "II" on the end. I wonder what the decision process behind that was. Seems a bit emblematic of the half-assed nature of the album now.

I like those tracks you mentioned well enough (love White Jeans). Other thoughts:

Violent Indigo is a very flat opener. Like they forgot to add a decent vocal hook. Midnight Marvelous is horrible. Hard to listen to. My least favourite track of their's, potentially. Weird.

Still, onwards and upwards. It might grow on me yet.

I really like the album a lot, but maybe it's their "worst", just because the run since the first album is almost perfect in my book. In terms of style, I think the balance they achieved on Skyline Whispers and Amber Galactic was magnificent - it's my favorite phase. But, I think the biggest problem of this album is to begin with the 2 weakest songs of it.

[cramx3]

I kind of like Midnight Marvelous, but Violent Indigo is definitely one of my least, if not the least, favorite songs on the album and maybe of all the songs Ive heard of them.  It's really a stinker for an opener for sure.

[ariich]

Midnight Marvelous is amazing, you guys are crazy.

[DoctorAction]

Great to hear the love for these guys and different opinions on the record. I couldn't stand Speedwagon for a long time so, you know, feelings often change.

I hope they can manage to play here in the UK again. I mean to invite absolutely everyone I know.

[devieira73]

New song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSJIwhU48sM
A bit more guitar oriented, but I always love their songs anyway! They didn't said if it's just a single or a new album.
In fact, I really love all their albums, but, if it was my choice, I would keep their style closer to the Skyline Whispers/Amber Galactic albums, which were pure perfection IMO!

[Polarbear]

Yeah, caught up with the new song! Pretty good!

Even if the last album was a bit of a letdown, I still can't get enough of TNFO! A lot of their music is very samey, but whatever song I listen to, I always end up in a good mood!

They are a guilty pleasure of mine, and I'm glad that I discovered them!

[cramx3]

NFO can do no wrong in my eyes, I like the new song.  I couldn't say no to another album, but I'd be shocked if they have another release up their sleaves so quickly.

[DoctorAction]

I dig it. Hoping the next album has a bit more "conviction" (for want of a better term) than the last one. Love the band to pieces.

[SoundscapeMN]

this band should do a tour with Cats in Space and Church of the Cosmic Skull

[wolfking]

Hmmm...I haven't cared for this band on the last couple.  This song kind of reminds me of their roots though....

[cramx3]

Soilwork shared this devastating news yesterday



David was guitarist and I think the biggest song writer for NFO.  Very tragic and sad news.

[devieira73]

Although Björn write a lot of top notch songs on TNFO, David's wrote a lot more and was the main creative force on TNFO. I think the songwriting on TNFO is truly amazing, but it always stayed just one step closer to seem just like a generic tribute to the 70's and 80's rock bands and I also think that David's incredible skills as a songwriter really helped a lot to give high quality and integrity to TNFO's sound. I don't know, it's hard to imagine TNFO with the same consistency without him.

[wolfking]

In both bands David was the real driving force.  He was in NFO from the start so I'm not sure if I see them continuing, but who knows.  Soilwork he became the main guy and really brought new life and brought the band into a new era.  Speed's songwriting certainly has improved, but I wouldn't be surprised if NFO stopped and he focused on Soilwork.  Soilwork did exist before David, but NFO didn't.  I don't know, the whole thing is tragic.  This one is hitting me hard for some reason. 

[DoctorAction]

Oh, God. This is awful news. Fantastic player and writer.

When we saw them on their first UK date, he was all cool, Nordic composure. Then Sharlee went for a cheesy rock dash across the stage in his white suit and slipped over flat on his arse, and David's cool obvs exploded into absolute delight and mirth. 

Absolutely love NFO. Gutted. Sleep easy, David.

[cramx3]

In both bands David was the real driving force.  He was in NFO from the start so I'm not sure if I see them continuing, but who knows.  Soilwork he became the main guy and really brought new life and brought the band into a new era.  Speed's songwriting certainly has improved, but I wouldn't be surprised if NFO stopped and he focused on Soilwork.  Soilwork did exist before David, but NFO didn't.  I don't know, the whole thing is tragic.  This one is hitting me hard for some reason.

I've always wanted to get into Soilwork, for a couple reasons (I've liked all the songs I've sampled before and I love Bjorn's voice from NFO), but never really deep dived and honestly never really took a good look into who is in NFO or who's the creative force.  When I read the news yesterday, I googled credits and saw David listed as the writer for much of their music.  It really hit hard at that moment for me too.  I'm not sure how NFO can continue either. 

[wolfking]

In both bands David was the real driving force.  He was in NFO from the start so I'm not sure if I see them continuing, but who knows.  Soilwork he became the main guy and really brought new life and brought the band into a new era.  Speed's songwriting certainly has improved, but I wouldn't be surprised if NFO stopped and he focused on Soilwork.  Soilwork did exist before David, but NFO didn't.  I don't know, the whole thing is tragic.  This one is hitting me hard for some reason.

I've always wanted to get into Soilwork, for a couple reasons (I've liked all the songs I've sampled before and I love Bjorn's voice from NFO), but never really deep dived and honestly never really took a good look into who is in NFO or who's the creative force.  When I read the news yesterday, I googled credits and saw David listed as the writer for much of their music.  It really hit hard at that moment for me too.  I'm not sure how NFO can continue either.

NFO is Bjorn and David.  Soilwork for the last ten is is literally those two also.  Check the latest album Overgivenheten, it's probably the best starting point given it has its lighter moments as opposed to the old stuff.

[devieira73]

From TNFO Facebook:

The Legacy continues…
 
September 14th, in the year of 2022 will be a date that none of us will ever forget. Our guitarist David Andersson shut his eyes forever. It was the day we’ve all dreaded for quite sometime. Our hearts are grieving. As Björn went to visit David for the last time at the hospital, he gave him the blessing to continue the musical journey that they both embarked on some 12 years ago. Despite David’s fairly long absence from the band as a touring member, we’ve had an amazing and busy summer with unforgettable shows. However, there’s one thing we haven’t done in a long time: playing club shows. We can’t see a better way to celebrate David’s life and music, than to embark on this mini European tour in November, that we’ve been planning for quite a while. We encourage you to join us in this celebration and dance the night away. This winged and nocturnal journey must continue. In David’s honor, we’ve also named the tour “Death to false AOR”. He would’ve loved that - cause if there’s one thing he loathed, it was false and non organic AOR.
 
/The Night Flight Orchestra

[wolfking]

Wow!  That's some statement.  Interesting the band will carry on.  Good for them. 

I wonder the exact situation about his decline in health.  That must have been some heart breaking visit for Bjorn.

[devieira73]

It seems they were preparing themselves for that for some time. Don't know for sure, but it seems he was already suffering of some disease that it was consequence of the his alcoholism, really really sad... I didn't know David wasn't already playing live with the band anymore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYnru7FBzM

Björn Strid - vocals
Rasmus Ehrnborn - guitar, percussion
Johan Randen - guitar, percussion
Sharlee D’Angelo - bass
John Lönnmyr - keyboards
Jonas Källsbäck - drums
Anna Brygård - backing vocals
Asa Lundmann - backing vocals

I think those guitar players weren't on the studio recordings.

[cramx3]

Interesting.  Good for the band to continue on, but still such a weird and sad situation.  I also didn't know he wasn't playing live with the band.

[DoctorAction]

I wonder what was happening with David over this period... So sad.

I think the guitarist in the front has played with them before. They had a second guitarist on at least one of the times I've seen them, and I'm almost certain he was playing one of those vintage-looking, double-cut Ibanez axes.