What does Lights Out sound like?

A gritty blend of hard rock and space-infused melodies that captures the essence of late 70s rock energy. Rooted in hard rock and space rock. Start with "Too Hot to Handle".

Is Lights Out a good place to start with UFO?

Yes, Lights Out is recommended as a starting point for new UFO listeners. A gritty blend of hard rock and space-infused melodies that captures the essence of late 70s rock energy. Released on May 7, 1977, Lights Out was UFO's fifth studio album, following the commercially successful Force It. At this point in their career, the band was beginning to solidify their reputation in the hard rock scene, paving the way for their breakthrough album Obsession just a year later.

Who is Lights Out for?

Lights Out works well if you're into dynamic emotional journeys, long, immersive listening sessions and atmospheric background focus.

How many songs are on Lights Out?

Lights Out has 8 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Lights Out

UFO · 1977

36 min · 8 tracks · hard rock

A gritty blend of hard rock and space-infused melodies that captures the essence of late 70s rock energy.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Lights Out — The title track exemplifies the album's dark intensity, featuring powerful guitar riffs and haunting vocals that embody UFO's hard rock identity.
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Love to Love — This nearly eight-minute epic showcases UFO's ability to blend intricate arrangements with emotional depth, serving as a highlight of their musical craftsmanship.
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Too Hot to Handle Start here — Opening with infectious energy, this track is a quintessential anthem of the era, demonstrating the band's knack for catchy hooks and driving rhythms.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album blends hard rock energy with dynamic shifts and strong musicianship, marking its influence on heavy metal.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a driving guitar riff that sets a high-energy tone, which is maintained through the first half of the album.
The title track features a notable shift in dynamics, introducing quieter verses that contrast with powerful choruses.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic emotional journeys
long, immersive listening sessions
atmospheric background focus
gradual builds and payoffs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Established UFO's reputation and influence in the heavy metal genre.
Themes: late 70s rock energy· gritty nightlife intensity
Career context: Released on May 7, 1977, Lights Out was UFO's fifth studio album, following the commercially successful Force It. At this point in their career, the band was beginning to solidify their reputation in the hard rock scene, paving the way for their breakthrough album Obsession just a year later.
Stylistic neighbors: Hawkwind· Blue Öyster Cult· Deep Purple