Heavy Rock
Silver Lining Music
Release Date – January 27th 2023
Line Up:
Bernie Shaw – Vocals
Mick Box – Guitars/Backing Vocals
Davey Rimmer – Bass/Backing Vocals
Russell Gilbrook – Drums
Phil Lanzon – Keyboards/Backing Vocals
Tracklist:
1 – Save Me Tonight
2 – Silver Sunlight
3 – Hail The Sunrise
4 – Age Of Changes
5 – Hurricane
6 – One Nation, One Sun
7 – Golden Light
8 – You’ll Never Be Alone
9 – Fly Like An Eagle
10 – Freedom To Be Free
11 – Closer To Your Dreams
Uriah Heep stepped in at the last minute to headline last year’s Stonedead Festival and at that particular time they were in the middle of recording ‘Chaos And Colour’ so it’s been over a year in the waiting but talks about worth the wait! Uriah Heep has been in existence for over 50 years now, but they just seem to get better and better.
The lead-off track and first single ‘Save Me Tonight’ gets straight to the point heavy on the riff played by Box and Lanzon and Dave Rimmer joining in here and there. The music is urgent but controlled and Bernie Shaw proves that he is powerful and melodic. ‘Silver Sunlight’ breathes through Lanzon’s lovely warm Hammond allowing Box to chop away and oh, those harmony vocals are sublime then we get heavy on ‘Hail The Sunrise’ which is classic Heep. ‘Age Of Changes’ has Lanzon offering a beautiful line before the band flies away with some more wonderful backing vocals. ‘Hurricane’ gets heavy with a huge choppy riff, a solid rhythm, and a couple of stunning solos from both Lanzon and Box. Uriah Heep has often been classed as a prog band so ‘One Nation, One Sun’ won’t come as a surprise to any Heep fan. Opening with a soft piano and Shaw’s rich voice, it builds with Rimmer’s bass before it opens up into a summery power ballad through a couple of movements then a mighty climax in a full cacophony of heavy melodic rock. Stabbing keys begin ‘Golden Light’ and then we’re off on another classic Heep rocker – with the huge Hammond and guitar to the fore then ‘You’ll Never Be Alone’ gets dark, and broody before some bright piano has Shaw singing gently before it explodes into a positive chorus and they’re away again on another epic. ‘Fly Like An Eagle’ stays with the dark and a powerful melody then it’s epic time again on ‘Freedom To Be Free’ before ‘Closer To Your Dreams’ ends things with some kick-ass rock n roll.
You know you’re onto a winner when you get goosebumps at the start of the first song. The sounds are full, bright, and right up-front thanks to an amazing production from Jay Ruston. Huge riffs and even bigger melodies that you will be humming for days. Uriah Heep has nothing to prove, and this allows them the freedom to just create and enjoy the process. Their last four releases have all been superb and this is another to add to their impressive body of work. Absolutely stunning!
Score: 10/10
Reviewed by: Smudge
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