By David O’Neill
Transatlantic Radio burst onto the scene in 2026 with ‘Midnight Transmission’, a debut album that’s pure AOR fire – crafted during 2020 lockdown by LA-based bassist Victor Brodén and his global supergroup.
Fronted by Swedish powerhouse Mattias Osbäck on lead and backing vocals, with RJ Ronquillo (ex-Ricky Martin, Santana, Stone Sour) shredding guitar, Fred Kron (Jimmy Kimmel Live! band) layering lush keys and Chris Reeve (Filter, Avril Lavigne) pounding drums, this lineup delivers timeless melodic rock with a crisp 2026 polish. Brodén anchors it all with groove-heavy bass, blending Euro sensibility and American muscle.
Kicking off with the bouncy opener ‘That’s What You Get (For Falling In Love),’ Ronquillo’s restrained riffs set a summery vibe, echoing Van Halen’s ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ on the soaring ‘City Of Angels’.
Things ramp up on the heaviest cut, ‘Wide Awake’ – a sledgehammer of driving choruses and a guest solo from Trixter’s Steve Brown – before dipping into syrupy soft rock with ‘Fever Dream’. Tracks like ‘The Good Times’ and pop-inflected ‘First To Be The Last’ keep the energy high, while ballads ‘All For You’ and ‘Against All The Odds’ showcase emotional depth.
Nodding to Foreigner, Toto, and Starship without cliché, ‘Midnight Transmission’ fuses massive hooks, slick production, and attitude-filled vocals into arena-ready anthems. It’s no nostalgia trip; this is melodic rock reborn, proving the genre thrives.
Essential for AOR fans craving shimmer and sledgehammer in equal measure to replace their heroes of the past who are rapidly pulling the curtains down on their illustrious careers. Transatlantic Radio give a peak behind those curtains into the future of AOR, and it’s some future based on this offering.
- ‘Midnight Transmission‘ will be released tomorrow (Friday 20 February).
- All content © Über Röck 2026.