Strap in, and prepare for a ‘Blast Off’! A hard-hitting, infectiously groovy alt-rock track from ‘The Party After’

The Nebraska-based rockers, The Party After have been busy of late, releasing their debut full-length album titled “Dopamine Machine”. Appropriately, perhaps, ‘Blast Off’ is the leading track.

Opening in the most awesome manner, heavy, rhythmic, distortion-heavy riffs kick things off. In the background, a vocal countdown ticks all the way down to zero and we have lift off. A full-bodied, hard-rocking arrangement ensues, with speaker-shattering riffs and thunderous drums. It feels akin to being in the path of a raging storm.

Strong, commanding aching vocals echo out loud, singing about being in a state of extreme transience, a refusal to go back to the way things used to be. The chorus is a compelling roaring back, demanding, ‘So you wanna be a star, You wanna go real far….’. The intensity of the vocal delivery briefly reminds me of Nickleback’s ‘Rockstar’, but this is way, way heavier in its sound and character.

A particularly compelling section kicks off at the 2 min mark, when the vocals absolutely take flight, soaring into the ether and then a sublime, fiery guitar solo follows, a crucial pause, and then we launch back in the chorus. It’s masterful song composition and arrangement, one that keeps you guessing but also feels extremely rewarding.

“Blast Off” is a track best enjoyed at loud AF levels. Its a classic, no-nonsense hard rock extravaganza and feels like something you want to come back to every now and then and remember what it feels like.

Stream ‘The Party After – Blast Off’ on Spotify here: