Customer Reviews

Megaforce

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

707's "Megaforce" was a great album that featured Kevin Chalfont on vocals. Their guitar hero unknown, Kevin Russell, rocks almost every song. The song was used in a movie of the same name (a lame movie at that). The band apparently has some personality issues thus this line-up only lasted for one album. That is too bad because this was a great album. Kevin Russell's vocals were good and so were Kevin Chafont's. The re-release was welcomed since it needed to see the light of a laser. The bonus songs are nice as well.

I stumbled across the original vinyl of this album with just a vague memory of the band, 707 - a band which by all account, was a highly respected live act that drew large crowds to famous music scenes like Whiskey A-Go-Go with their melodic keyboard and guitar rock.

The fidelity of the original vinyl blew me away, so I am betting that a remastered digital release of Mega Force will please other music fans who appreciate solid production.

This is circa 1982 rock music with progressive rock influences and a riff and synth powered style made popular during the early 80s by bands like Yes and Rush. It's easy (and fair) to wonder whether this album will sound dated given that it is more than 20 years old. For me, this album doesn't have the stale taste of old Journey and Night Ranger albums, and I do not feel compelled to lump this album into the "classic rock" category. On the contrary, this album sounds surprisingly fresh. The themes are universal: songs about young love and youthful rebellion.

About the sound... Mega Force was intended to provide theme music for a B-Movie sci-fi flick of the same name. The music isn't corny enough to be the soundtrack to a cheesy sci-fi movie, but in truth, the album's tracks do sound as if they could have been used in any number of 80s B-movies. Perhaps that's part of the album's charm. The musical style reminds me a little of Journey and REO Speedwagon, so if you enjoy either of these bands with a little extra keyboard work, then you'll likely enjoy 707.

THIS IS A GREAT HARD TO FIND CD FROM 707 WHICH ORIGINALLY CAME OUT IN 1982. THIS WAS THEIR 3RD ALBUM AND I LIKE IT BETTER THAN THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS FROM 1980 AND 1981. MEGA FORCE WAS A HIT SINGLE AND IT ROCKS. 707 INCORPORATED MORE SYNTHESIZERS INTO THEIR SOUND ON THIS ALBUM AND IT WORKS GREAT. THE CD IS SOLID FROM BEGINNING TO END AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE THE POWER BALLAD "OUT OF THE DARK" WHICH IS TRACK 4. THE 5 BONUS TRACKS ARE GREAT ROCKING TUNES AS WELL. THIS WAS 707'S FIRST ALBUM RECORDED WITH KEVIN CHALFANT ON LEAD VOCALS; WHO WOULD LATER BECOME THE LEAD SINGER FOR THE STORM IN 1991.

There's not alot to say that the other reviews didn;t say already..
BUT I WILL say that my copy of this has a HIDDEN track! Track 17 is the song " I COULD BE GOOD FOR YOU" from 707's first album, which was a moderate hit here in the Cincinnati Ohio area along with the song "MEGAFORCE".
I don't much of their music but now I have the two songs I like already
on 1 CD!

Saw this band live when they opened for Huey Lewis and the News at in 1982 (Great America). I ran out to the record store the next day to buy the record. 1982..I still have the record! Great to sing along with. Interesting sound...unique, I think.

Favorite songs: Megaforce, Get to You, We Will Last.

Replacing the record with CD. Thanks Amazon!

I happened upon the Vinyl album of 707 Megaforce in the mid-80's in a closout bin. Something just drew me to it, and when I saw a thank you to REO Speedwagon on the liner notes, I figured I would give them a try.

I LOVED this album. Later on, after Journey broke up, a couple of members formed "The Storm" and their lead singer was Kevin Chalfont who is the lead for 707. I instantly recognized the voice and "The Storm" is one of my favorite CD's in my collection.

I searched for 707 a while back and couldn't find it on CD. I figured it was such an obscure album that it would never be on CD. I was getting ready to pull out the Vinyl and make MP3's out of it when low and behold, I found it on Amazon!

Can't wait to hear "MegaForce", "We Will Last", "Heartbeat" and the rest of the great songs on this CD!

Jun 16, 2004.

1982 was the year for a glorious begin of the 707 band. It was really a smashing hit for the rock listeners. Here down in Mexico, we heard the Megaforce song a lot by FM radio stations. The recording is a straight, heavy and rhythmic hard rock in the same way of groups like Survivor or AC/DC (You have to hear to understand friends!). The Band was formed by Kevin Rusell on Guitars & back up vocals; Tod Howarth on Keys/rhythm gtr & back up vocals; Phil Bryant on Bass/back up vocals; Jim McClarty on Drums and Kevin Chalfant on Lead vocals (he reminds me the high toned voice of Steve Perry of Journey).
Superb recording with tons of sheer emotion. Highly recomended! Just give it a try...It's a shame that the band delayed sixteen years to see the light again with the Second Album (1998), plus two more for Trip to Heaven (2000). MEGAFORCE is one of those isolated jems that are hard to find like Coliseum Rock of Starz (1978) or Alias of Alias (1990) unless you have the opportunity to hear them sometime, somewhere...So Go for it! because there is "No better feeling" for this... Good Luck!

This is a very good cd,use to listen to this when i was younger,brings back many memories...
good quality...will buy more in the future.

I'm disappointed with the music of this album and some of the reviews I read here on amazon that said it was a good album!

People said this was like "Journey with a little extra keyboards". WELL, THAT'S FALSE! Journey makes music that's consistently good...not consistently average with a few high points! I'll say that there are a few high points that keep this from being a 1 Star review but I won't say they are even close to being that description. The title track is pretty catchy but the rest is very boring with only a few high points and the bonus tracks have no purpose at all!

Also I know that Kevin Chalfant is on lead vocals for this album. He sounds nothing like he does in The Storm albums or more recently; Two Fires! I love his voice but this album is wasted talent for him!

I will not describe the music because there is nothing interesting enough to describe. The only highlights (ok not highlights, lets call them decent songs) are Mega Force, Out of the Dark, Write Again, and No Better Feeling.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this album because there's really nothing to listen to hear that will make you want it badly. Unless you are a fan of this band, then I strongly suggest against getting it. I've never seen the movie that the title track is from, but if this is the music and the reviews say the movie is cheesier, then count me out!

The only talent in this is Kevin Chalfant, who was present ONLY for this album. If that tells you anything...

I find this album great for listening to while driving about in the motor.