PAWN HEARTS

By this stage, VdGG were easily rivalling King Crimson for most insanely heavy prog band, and Pawn Hearts is without a doubt their most demented work, with vocalist Peter Hammill screeching and wailing like a complete madman. However, what sets this album apart is a sense of theatrical drama, evoked not only through Hammill's roaring vocals but also through deft use of psych organ and some Frippian guitar riffs & solos. There's a palpable sense of dread when listening to the evil "Man-Erg", and a sense of psychotic downward-spiralling from "Lemmings". You can really feel your mind fracturing as you listen. "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" is the band's longest epic yet, and is thoroughly dramatic and affecting, a painful lament interspersed with instrumental insanity. So, this is definitely one of the best prog albums ever made, and it's also worth picking up the version with some of the bonus tracks, like the epic orchestral "Theme One", for extra prog goodness.

Utterly superb.