The Heart of the City, The Soul of the Eighties: Lockhart - City Pulse (Album Review) Released: 6/12/26
Canada has quietly been sending some of the most interesting melodic rock acts into the world lately, and LockHart might just be the most surprising entry yet. A trio with serious pedigree: bassist Jason Junop (Cauldron, Goat Horn), drummer Fabio Alessandrini (a man who has graced stages and studios with Bonfire, Enforcer, Annihilator, and Hardline, among others), and the multi-instrumentalist Devon Kerr, who also fronts Axxion, the band arrives at their debut full-length having already cut their teeth with the 2022 EP No Chance and the title single released in 2025. The result is an album that feels both lovingly crafted and genuinely alive, the kind of record that rewards patience and repeated listening in equal measure. What immediately sets Lockhart apart from the average act is the sheer breadth of what Kerr brings to the table. Handling lead and backing vocals, guitars, synthesizers, and grand piano across the record, he is less a frontman than a one-man sonic architecture firm. The presence of a grand piano alongside vintage synthesizers at the heart of a hard rock record says everything you need to know about the ambition at play here. Junop contributes not only a melodic, locked-in bass performance throughout but adds his voice to the harmonic blend as well, thickening the group's vocal stack from the bottom up. Alessandrini, meanwhile, brings both drums and percussion to bear as a distinction that matters on a record this carefully layered, where texture and feel are as important as raw power. As a unit, these three create something that sounds far larger than a trio has any right to.
LockHart wears its influences proudly with this record without ever feeling derivative. Fans of the golden era of American arena rock will find a lot to love here, with the melodic grandeur of Journey, the muscular warmth of Boston, the polished hooks of Foreigner and REO Speedwagon, and the lush atmospherics of Toto all echoing through these nine tracks. But the record's DNA runs far deeper than overdriven guitars and vintage synthesizers. Listen closely, and you'll catch traces of classic vocal harmony traditions, hints of Brian Wilson's orchestration instincts, even the rounded warmth of old-school choral music and the ghost of fifties doo-wop floating beneath the surface. It's a richer blend than the AOR tag alone might suggest, and that depth is precisely what elevates LockHart above the crowded retro-rock landscape with City Pulse. The album opens with its title track, and it immediately establishes the band's sonic identity with authority. Shimmering keyboards, a locked-in rhythm section, and Kerr's warm, assured vocal combine to create something that feels both nostalgic and freshly energized. Backing vocalist Imogen Wasse adds a luminous, airy quality that lifts the chorus into genuinely anthemic territory. It's a mission statement of an opener that feels melodic, cinematic, and impossible to shake.
"Can't Shake It" keeps the momentum rolling with a slightly harder edge, driven by a propulsive groove from Junop and Alessandrini and a slick guitar solo from Ian Kilpatrick of Cauldron. The chemistry between Kilpatrick and the core band is natural and unforced, and the track has a swagger that sits comfortably alongside the album's more polished moments without ever feeling out of place. "The Dose That Made You Poison" is one of the album's most compelling moments as a song that builds carefully and pays off handsomely. The arrangement is meticulous, layering Kerr's grand piano and synthesizers over a rock-solid rhythmic foundation, and the lyrical tone carries a darkness that gives the record some welcome emotional contrast. This is LockHart showing real compositional ambition. "Together as None" follows, and it's another highlight. A mid-tempo gem with an enormous chorus, it demonstrates the band's knack for constructing songs that feel inevitable rather than formulaic. Every element is in its right place, and Kerr's vocal performance here is among his best on the record: emotive, controlled, and deeply melodic.
"Under Fire" shifts the energy again, bringing a more urgent, driving feel to the album's midsection. Alessandrini's drumming and percussion work is particularly commanding here, propulsive and precise, a reminder that this is a drummer who has held his own in some of metal's most demanding environments. The song's hook digs in and refuses to let go, and would have dominated rock radio in another era without losing a thing. "Just Can't Wait" offers a slightly breezier, more playful moment, with a bright, rolling keyboard figure at its core and a vocal melody that feels effortless. It's perhaps the most overtly poppy track on the record, channeling the sunnier side of classic AOR without ever tipping into saccharine territory. A welcome breath of air at the album's midpoint. "You Wouldn't Know Love" is the record's most unexpected and arguably most exciting track. Nick Poulos of Municipal Waste brings a guitar solo that crackles with energy, a guest spot that sounds like it shouldn't work on paper, and ends up being one of the album's most memorable moments. Imogen Wasse returns on backing vocals, her contributions again adding a textural richness that beautifully complements Kerr's lead. Beneath it all, Kerr's grand piano anchors the track with an elegance that keeps it from ever tipping into pure rock excess.
"Before the Fall" brings a more reflective quality to the record's closing stretch. Expansive and carefully paced, it showcases LockHart's ability to slow things down without losing the listener's attention. The harmonic layering here is particularly impressive, recalling the choral ambitions that sit at the core of the band's identity. It's a beautifully constructed piece that lingers long after it ends. The album closes with "No Chance in Heaven," a track that draws together everything City Pulse does well: the melodic instincts, the instrumental precision, the vocal layering, and sends the listener off on a high. It's a confident and satisfying conclusion to a debut that has earned its ending. LockHart may be a slight curveball in the High Roller Records catalogue, but that's precisely what makes City Pulse worth paying attention to. This is eighties arena rock filtered through serious musicianship, genuine songcraft, and a creative ambition that refuses to stay in any single lane. Every track earns its place, and the album as a whole is greater than the sum of its already impressive parts. A confident, thoroughly enjoyable debut from a band that sounds like they have plenty more to say.
Comments
Post a Comment