Escape seem to have a knack for rooting out melodic rock/AOR bands and France is not normally a country associated with this genre of music. But France is where Toyx hail from and this is their debut album. One standout in the music is the keyboards that are right up in the mix and Christopher Mornac supplies some catchy keyboard riffs throughout the album.

Vocalist Luke Marcheciel has a big, powerful voice that suits the arena rock on here well - just check out ‘She’s A Star’ (slightly dubious lyric though in ‘I know she’s making little play with me’!), prime time melodic rock a la White Lion or Drive She, Said. ‘That’s My Heart’ rocks like a good ‘un and has a driving Hammond to keep things rolling. Ballad time, an essential on any album like this and ‘I Will Return’ is not a bad one - builds nicely up to the chorus and plenty of harmonies to be heard. The last two tracks spoil it slightly for me, ‘Big Ice Creams’ is pretty throwaway and ‘Spanish Nights’ tries to be a good time rocker but sounds sadly contrived.

Be good to see another album by this band as they have laid a strong foundation with this album. Keyboard fans will be in seventh heaven for sure (check out the keyboard solo on ‘She’s A Star’).

***½

Review by Jason Ritchie

Label website

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly