Von Groove return from a more than two-decade silence with Born To Rock, and to be honest I’ve waited a long time for this. Von Groove was in my estimation one of the very best Melodic Hard Rock bands of the 90’s, and with this return they go straight for the throat – kicking the door off its hinges and demanding to be heard. Reuniting the classic lineup of Mladen, Michael Shotton, and Matthew Gerrard, this feels so right – it’s the sound of a band remembering exactly why they mattered in the first place.
The opening title track “Born To Rock” sets the tone immediately: big, unapologetic, and dripping with classic Hard Rocking swagger. It’s fun, references time travel and tells the well worn story us of us Rockers share. The chorus is so huge you can’t even see over it, and during the first play you’ll be singing along. If you loved this band before then you will be amazed by how great this comeback sounds. There’s a knowing wink to their own legacy here, with a nod to ‘Once Is Not Enough” ‘oven into the fabric of the song, which feels like a statement of survival—Von Groove reasserting their identity with blazing guitars, punchy rhythm work, and a chorus built for fists-in-the-air moments. It’s the sound of a band not just returning, but reawakening.
From there, ‘Fearless’ is pure ‘blue sky’ shimmering Melodic Rock and ‘Champion’ keeps the momentum locked in, leaning hard into the record’s core strength: melodic Hard Rock with real tenacity behind the rock solid hooks. Shotton’s dual role on drums and vocals gives the album a tight, cohesive drive, while Gerrard’s bass work keeps everything anchored in a solid, radio-ready groove. But there’s plenty of contrast ‘Fearless’ has more urgency, and ‘summer day’ energy, while ‘Champion’ opens things up into something more Metallic, a little harder and anthem-like, with a touch of vintage Bonfire or Dio, it was built for big stages and has a more ‘European’ feel. Both are stunning.
Mid-album cuts like ‘Adrenaline’, ‘Angela’, and ‘Undefeated’ show just how comfortably Von Groove slide back into the sound of their glory days without being afraid to give it an edge. They effortlessly hit that Hard Rocking sweet spot without sounding frozen in time. ‘Adrenaline’ lives up to its name with a sharper edge and just a little darker, with a more understated chorus that just works. Contrastingly ‘Angela’ brings the pace down, a stuttering, deliberate slower number shot with melodies, giving an emotional pull that intensifies the feeling of loss in the lyric of lost love. But it’s ‘Undefeated’ in particular feels like a mission statement—it soars, defiant, hook-heavy, and steeped in that classic melodic Hard Rock optimism that keeps us all going and refusing to quit. It’s a highlight as big and bold as the opener, but like ‘Champion’ a little harder-edged, without giving up an ounce of melody.
The heart of the record opens up further with the Def Leppard-like Melodic gem ‘Do It All Over Again’ and the hugely uplifting ‘Heart Of Forgiveness’, where the band lean into a Billy Squier-like groove and top that great groove with one of the best choruses on the record! There’s a maturity here that comes naturally after such a long gap—less about proving anything and more about reaffirming why this sound still matters. ‘Do It All Over Again’ in particular feels like Von Groove looking back without regret, while still driving forward with intent. This is a seriously great album.
The closing stretch comes too soon —‘Dreams’, ‘Waiting For The Sky To Fall’, and ‘Always Endlessly’—tie everything together with a strong sense of all you loved about Von Groove and all you will love about this album. ‘Dreams’ rides a funky bassline that makes you think of Tyketto, and keeps the melodic flame burning bright, ‘Waiting For The Sky To Fall’ the real big ballad here adds an emotional edge in it’s orchestration, which is lush but not overblown, letting the lyric take centre place. Final track ‘Always Endlessly’ was a huge surprise, I mean after a ballad like that the last thing you expect is another ballad! What it shows is how great these guys are at pouring emotion into a song, this one is even bigger, more orchestrated, absolutely AOR, and feels like a real jolt back in time. It is huge. Ending with two ballads might just be the next big thing!
By the end of ‘Born To Rock’, you sit exhausted, grinning from ear to ear. This is wonderful. Von Groove haven’t just revisited their past—they’ve reaffirmed their place in the present. It’s polished, powerful, and packed with conviction: a comeback album that actually earns the word comeback and sees them right back at the top of the tree. I have to go now, I have to play it again… and again…
This is a solid 9 /10 – what a return!