The nicest guys in Heavy Metal are back, and they are armed with a brand-new album. Fresh off the runway, Acts Of Madness is the latest offering from NWOBHM stalwarts Airforce.
Airforce – Acts Of Madness
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Steve Kenton
Originally scheduled for release in August 2024, the album suffered delays due to the legal wrangling surrounding the integration of their label ROAR (Rock Of Angels Records) with RPM (Reigning Phoenix Music). It was subsequently launched on 21 February 2025 and it has been well worth the wait.
Airforce have been around a long time, since 1986, with their origins dating back as far as the late ’70s. Predominantly known as a live band, the outfit did not release their first album, Judgement Day, until 2016. The four-piece then followed that up with the well-received second album, Strike Hard.
Acts Of Madness is their first album release since 2020, and arguably, it’s the best of the lot. With eleven tracks on the album, it really is the gift that keeps on giving. The first thing you notice about the album is that all of the tracks are mid-paced. The band really do not feel the need for speed, and it just works well.
The opening track, Among The Shadows, was unleashed to the public back in September 2024 at the Cart & Horses. This really showcases Lino Van Clëëf’s soaring vocals. The limelight is not solely shone on Airforce’s Portuguese frontman, as guitarist Chop Pitman lights up the first track with a blistering solo. Life Turns To Dust follows the blistering opener with some chugging bass work from Tony Hatton. The backing vocals are slightly unusual, nay unexpected in their delivery, almost spoken – but they fit beautifully.
Next up to gently fondle the ear holes is The Fury. Lino tears through this track, sounding like a cross between Rob Halford and Geoff Tate, while Doug Sampson’s drumming dominates the song with a steady but urgent call to arms.
Tracks four and five, Cursed Moon and Sniper, really showcase what Airforce are about: solid, dependable, mid-paced Heavy Metal. It is however, Lost Forever which delivers the first surprise. When you first hear it, the song throws you a little. It is slow and brooding but then delivers a punch. It’s rather reminiscent of Iron Maiden’s Remember Tomorrow. Tony Hatton really impresses with another excellent bass line. It is a definite departure from the first five tracks.
Westworld is arguably one of the best tracks on the album. Chop Pitman drives this song with a fast-paced opening, like Steve McQueen tearing around Le Mans in a Porsche 917. How the long-standing axeman gets such a huge sound from his Brian Moore guitars is a work of supernatural genius.
Then comes the air-raid siren – nope, it’s not a guest appearance by Bruce Dickinson. It is the opening to Heroes. This was another song featured last September at the Cart & Horses, and it was a real crowd-pleaser. A dark, brooding anti-war song with the solid reliability of Doug Sampson and Tony Hatton doing what they do best while Chop releases his inner Gary Moore with a solo that the legendary Lizzy guitarist would have been proud of. As for Lino’s vocals? Well, thanks to him, I spent the whole afternoon with that song reverberating in my head.
Track nine was an unexpected little gem – an instrumental. Now, usually, an instrumental is used as a filler track (unless you’re listening to the Tornadoes). However, this is not shoehorned in just to make up the numbers. This is a quality piece of work that deserves attention. I would love to hear this track re-recorded with some lyrics – Airforce have a potential fans favourite on their hands here.
The following track is a piece of work straight out of the WWII history books. Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of American conscientious objector and hero medic Desmond Doss. Sampson, Hatton, Pitman and Lino capture the mood beautifully in this track. Dark, compelling and one that defies you not to listen to on a fixed loop.
Now we come to the pièce de résistance. As any self-respecting Metal fan knows, Strange World first saw the light of day on Iron Maiden’s eponymous first album. It is actually one of the slowest songs the band have ever recorded and really showcased Paul Di’Anno’s talents as a vocalist.
But now, along come Airforce who tore up the playbook which says covers are never as good as originals. The lads have done something extraordinary with this song by deconstructing it, making it a darker and heavier song but without losing the essence of the track.
I spoke to Chop about this particular track, and he explained that it was a tribute to Paul Di’Anno, who tragically passed away last October. The Airforce guitarist, who is a close friend of Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris, asked permission to record the track for the album. Not only did ‘Arry give his blessing to the Chop, but he recommended that former Maiden man Dave Sullivan play some of the guitar parts on the track. The result? Well, Steve Harris was suitably impressed, stating that he liked the ambience of the track.
If you are a NWOBHM fan then Acts Of Madness is essential listening. If you are not a NWOBHM fan, get the album anyway. In fact, raid your granny’s pension for it.
It is rare that you get an album that is all killer and no filler, but Airforce have managed to do it with aplomb.