There was either a miscommunication with the final product, or Rock Band From Hell made a head-scratchingly curious production decision as Music For Late Night Activities (Universal/Central Line) sounds like half of it was recorded on Windows Media Player with those calculators that stand themselves up hydraulically. 

The most frustrating part is that behind the haze of whatever the hell, there are some really solid songs with catchy potential and vocal lines that have to go toe-to-toe with the sabotaging sound.

“Sex Is On Fire” and “Fed Up” (minus the excessive autotune) definitely stick. And refrains on “Afraid Of Heights” and “Cloud 9” are flirtatiously appetizing. It’s a brand of pop-punk that accentuates the positives: melodies that promote happiness and fulfillment with sultry vocal patterns.

But again, the songs are perpetually competing against a benevolent higher power.

“Back To School (Good Luck Million)” takes influences from early 2000s era New Found Glory and The Ataris. Furthermore, “Love Me Til I Die” effectively boasts group vocals. 

However and unfortunately aptly so, the final three songs are the coup de grace. “Kylie Dreams” is so inaudible; the lyrics sound like “just go fuck your collared greens” at times. “Never Wanna See You Again” is…a song. And the finisher “Don’t Play This Backwards” literally is backwards. I think. It’s actually hard to tell. 

What struck me initially was the infatuation with autotune. Then it was the shoddy (to say the least) production. Then it was the disappointment of serviceable songs having to compete with themselves. 

If Music For Late Night Activities is the actual finished product, that’s quite the decision. If it is in fact an error during a handoff, it’s stunning no one caught this in time.

Buy the album here:

https://www.levykauppax.fi/artist/rock_band_from_hell/music_for_late_night_activities/#856087

5 / 10

MATT COOK