Late Landing – Odyssey: Scottish Heavy Rock Embarks on an Epic Journey

Review By Glen Parkes

Genre: Alternative heavy rock / hard rock / alternative metal

There is something satisfying about a band taking the time to build its sound, then arriving with a record that feels ready to stretch its legs. Hailing from Scotland, Late Landing, and with Odyssey brings that journey into focus. Across eight tracks and around 42 minutes, the quartet blend alternative hard rock, metal-edged riffs, melodic hooks and progressive detours without losing sight of the power that makes a heavy rock record hit home.

The album opens with “Reveries”, setting the scene before “The Time Is Now” kicks the door in. There is a directness to the second track: muscular guitars, a driving rhythm section and vocals that move between forceful hard-rock delivery and a sharper metallic bite. The song’s momentum builds around a strong melodic core, showing that Late Landing understand heaviness works best when it has a hook to hold onto. It is a clear statement of intent.

“Sinking Feeling” pushes further into modern alternative metal territory. The bass and drums give the track a chest-forward pulse, while the guitars add weight without smothering the melody. There is an anthemic quality to its shape, balancing tension with a chorus designed to stick. “Grand Illusions” changes the pace, letting the arrangement breathe and placing more emphasis on the vocal line. It remains firmly rooted in heavy rock, but its more measured approach gives the record useful contrast and prevents the album from becoming one long wall of sound.

“Heart In Hand” is a natural focal point. Its moodier opening creates room for the track to gather strength, before the band turn up the intensity and let the arrangement expand. That shift from restraint to full-blooded release is one of Odyssey’s most effective qualities. The guitars feel broad and purposeful, the rhythm section keeps everything grounded, and the chorus carries the sort of scale that could translate strongly to a live room. Late Landing are at their best when they let melody and muscle work together rather than treating them as opposing forces.

“Darkest Days” continues that balance, pairing harder-edged verses with a more open, alternative-rock chorus. The drumming gives the song much of its forward drive, adding precision and impact while leaving space for the guitars to punch through. It is a reminder that dynamics can be as powerful as volume: the shifts in intensity keep the listener engaged and give the heavier passages greater force.

Then comes “All At Once”, a slower burn that takes its time before delivering its payoff. The arrangement builds patiently, creating anticipation rather than rushing towards the obvious climax. When the guitar work finally breaks loose, it gives the track a satisfying lift and makes the journey feel earned. It is a useful bridge to the album’s closing statement, and a clear example of the progressive side of Late Landing’s writing.

The title track, “Odyssey”, closes the record with an expansive instrumental journey. Its length gives the band room to move between spacious passages, groove-led sections and heavier bursts, allowing the musicianship to take centre stage. Rather than simply repeating a riff until the clock runs out, the track develops through changes in pace and atmosphere. It feels like a deliberate finale: ambitious, weighty and suited to an album whose title suggests a journey rather than a straight line.

Across Odyssey, the production gives the instruments space while preserving the impact of the riffs and rhythm section. The record connects the immediacy of alternative hard rock with the scale of progressive metal, but it never seems to forget the importance of a memorable chorus. That balance is what makes the album work. Late Landing sound like a band comfortable with their identity, yet willing to take a few turns along the way.

Due to be Released on 6 November, Odyssey is a confident next chapter from a Scottish band marking waves together. It offers heavy riffs, melodic lift and enough shifts in direction to reward repeated listens. For listeners who like their rock forceful but not one-dimensional, Late Landing have delivered a record that earns its title.