Fifth Note – Here We Are (Frontiers Music)

India currently seems to be something of a happening place with rock bands aplenty breaking onto the European scene with Fifth Note being the latest new group joining the Frontiers label.

Fifth Note hail from Kohima which is the capital of the Northeastern Indian state of Nagaland and is a relatively new unit having only formed in 2019 with Here We Are being their debut release. Apparently, they were initially something of a Christian rock band but have now moved slightly away from bands like Stryper to a more old-school progressive hard rock sound with definite flavours of AC/DC, Judas Priest, Edguy and a touch of Diamond Head and Rainbow too. It’s all very traditional rock ‘n’ roll but they promote a clean-cut image so definitely no black magic elements are involved, just old-school and perfectly crafted hard rock.

There are lots of riffs and energetic solos from Khriekethozo Sekhose and the pairing of Jubito Swu and Ruuvolie Kire makes for a hard-working rhythm section on bass and drums respectively with the keyboards of Sheduto Kezo giving a progressive element to the proceedings. Samuel Thapa has an interesting voice with a great delivery and he comes across as a throaty but soaring combination of David Coverdale, Ronnie Romero and Klaus Meine and the more you hear him the better he gets.

Here We Are is another of those timeless albums that could have come from any period over the last 40-years or so with the songs being short, sharp attacks that quickly kick ass and then on to the next topic and not an overblown or indulgent moment in sight. They are tight and so with it and, I’m sure, a great live act with the debut being a great starting point for them and a bright future ahead.

As with so many bands that follow the old-school approach there is nothing new about their work but, again, how could they be so just sit back and enjoy an upcoming band at the start of their career and it’s a damned good start too.