The new Uriah Heep CD arrived yesterday together with the new Nazareth offering Rock n Roll Telephone. Two releases from two of my favourite bands on the same day. What quandary – which to listen to first. Coin flipped, Heep won. So here’s my review of Outsider. Nazareth to follow in a few days.
What a storming CD Outsider is. The unmistakable classic Heep sound from the halcyon days of the 1970s with a crisp, fresh modern feel. This is what a proper rock/metal/bit proggy band should be like. The production (courtesy Mike Paxman) and sound is crystal clear too with all musicians to the fore in the mix and Bernie Shaw’s vocals hitting the spot. Outsider does not disappoint.
Mick Box throws out trademark chunky riffs and big chords. He’s still the master of the wah-wah pedal and those ,long mazy runs up and down the fret board. On form for sure. Listening to it one imagines being in a concert hall somewhere watching Mick’s big grin as he belts songs out from this CD.
Let’s not forget the rest of the band. Bernie’s right on it. Russell Gilbrook pounds the life out of his kit with plenty of use of the crash/splash cymbal which sounds great. Davey Rimmer, making his recording debut for UH, has a huge space to fill stepping in to poor Trevor Boulder’s shoes and does an admirable job. Could be Trevor indeed. Solid, pounding melodic lines. And of course Phil Lanzon’s swirling keyboards with big washes of sound. All complement each other and fit together so well.
The opener – Speed of Sound – is a fine up tempo rocker demonstrating the above sound. Big guitar, great solo, keys to the fore here and there and in case anyone needed any reminding this is Uriah Heep lots of those aaaah-aaaah-aaahs too around a memorable chorus. A ready-made UH classic.
One Minute is as hook-laden and catchy as you like. If TOTP was still on the tele……… The other nine tracks all top notch too. Well paced finely constructed cuts that really nail it. So enjoyable to listen to it flashes by. Early favs being The Law, Rock the Fountain and Jessie. Ah – all of ‘em really. Proper, proper modern classic rock from a band which really does get better with age.
Even allowing a little for being a lifetime Heep fan I do try to remain objective when reviewing without the rose-tinted specs (and yes, Fallen Angel was/is a true shocker, all time UH low in my opinion but that was a long time ago) there’s nothing to find any fault with on Outsider. Very much look forward to a tour spot somewhere (Holmfirth again please Mick) to see some of these cuts being performed live.
Don’t take my word alone if you don’t want to. Here’s a second opinion describing it as “Outstanding”. Hit the link to read.
Another Review of Uriah Heep Outsider
I’ll review the new Nazareth next in two or three days.
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