VHS Or Beta follow a pretty simple formula on their latest album Night On Fire. Thumping 70's disco + moody 80's new wave = new millennium dance-punk. It's not terribly original, but it makes for a fun listen. I especially like the title track which shows off their ability to hit a groove and ride it. Note how the bass player really leans into his playing after the bridge -- you can tell they were bouncing around the studio when recording that one. "Forever" is nothing but a compelling rhythm married to vocoder'ed chorus and sounds like something that might have packed the dancefloors in 1979. "Dynamize" and "Alive" have that big 80's sound -- kind of like the Alarm or early U2. "The Melting Moon" nods to a number of post-punk touchstones, most notably Echo & The Bunnymen.
The minimal lyrics are pretty bland, but the lead singer's Robert-Smith-like croon makes them sound deep. Some of the songs fade into the background and others go on too long (like the closer "Irreversible"), but if you like the ingredients in the formula, this album can definitely set your night on fire. 7 out of 10.