VEGA – Kiss Of Life

There is a fine line between being talented and being unskilled in the music industry today. Given the simple criteria of musicianship, songwriting, and overall performance, Vega is hands down one of the most talented new bands to hit the circuit. Their debut album Kiss Of Life is a Melodic Rock masterpiece.

This quartet is comprised of vocalist Nick Workman from UK rock band Kick, noted songwriters (and twin brothers) Tom and James Martin playing guitar and keyboards, respectively, and Dan Chantrey on drums. Vega just formed in May 2009, and there are two key elements to the success of Kiss Of Life. First being the outstanding vocals of Nick Workman, and the exceptional songwriting found within the twelve tracks offered.

Regarding Workman’s vocals, they are extremely pristine and clean cut. Glenn Hughes may already hold the title of “The Voice Of Rock”, however, Workman should moniker himself “The Voice Of Melodic Rock.” His pleasant performance and heartfelt passion overflows into each and every track. Workman has incredible range, and the higher-pitched vocals are a perfect match for this type of music.

Materially, each one of the tracks is extremely well-written. Lyrically, most of the songs contain a positive message about love and life. The title track “Kiss Of Life” is a perfect example — Workman proclaims “Take me, shake me, bring me back to life … with your kiss of life.” One of the more notable songs is the track “Staring At The Sun”, which features some really good and inspiring vocals from Workman, and a great riff during the chorus. Arguably one of the best songs on the album too is “Too Young For Wings.” This enchanting ballad is about losing a love and saying goodbye. Workman stretches his range to its highest peak during this track and portrays plenty of intense emotion.

As a whole, Kiss Of Life contains virtually every element of a musically phenomenal album. Although it’s not heavy and hardcore by any means, it is a pleasing and enjoyable listen. Kiss Of Life will also leave you with a feeling of satisfaction upon its completion.

The smooth sounds of Vega have provided a very respectable debut album… and this will be a fun band to watch evolve in the future.