UFO – Mechanix VG+/VG+

Mechanix finds UFO recalibrating after lineup turbulence, leaning into a tougher, street‑hardened hard‑rock sound that feels both workmanlike and revitalised. The album trades the spacey elegance of their ’70s peak for a punchier, bar‑band immediacy: tight riffs, no‑nonsense grooves, and Phil Mogg delivering with a dry, lived‑in bite. There’s a sense of a band pushing forward through grit rather than mystique, and that tension gives the record its character. The guitars lock into muscular, mid‑tempo patterns, the rhythm section keeps everything grounded, and the hooks arrive with a blunt, unfussy confidence. What makes Mechanix compelling is its blend of craft and stubborn resilience—UFO sounding leaner, hungrier, and more earthbound, yet still unmistakably themselves. It’s a snapshot of a veteran group refusing to coast, finding new momentum in sheer force and clarity.