QUEEN

Queen stormed out of the blocks with this killer debut and everybody had to sit up and take notice. It is a grand entrance onto the music stage with some of the best rocking Queen tracks in their huge catalogue. The prog influences were there from the get go and the band were certainly headed for stardom with their innovative approach to music and their sheer boldness and audacity at exploring the experimental side of music. Freddie Mercury was the ace card with his powerhouse vocals, but the guitar work of Brian May cannot be underrated, nor can the rhythm section of Taylor and Deacon. It bursts through the gates with the proto metal guitar driven "Keep Yourself Alive". Brian May's guitar rhythms are thunderous with chops and crunches that must have inspired budding metal guitarists. "Doing All Right" is another rocker and is followed by the progressive off the wall "Great King Rat". It has many time changes and odd lyrics that place it towards the top of the proggiest on the album. The frenetic pace and energy of the band is evident and the band is exciting when they are in full flight like this. Queen unleashed are a thing of beauty and they were not taking any prisoners on this album.

"My Fairy King" showcase Mercury's high register vocals, and the harmonies that became a trademark for Queen. "Liar" is drenched in guitars and powerful harmonies and is a fan favourite. "The Night Comes Down" explores some blues tones with May outstanding on guitar.

"The Night Comes Down" is rhythmic and catchy with progressive nuances. The chord changes on this are very strange, angular guitar and choir effects add to the weird atmospheres. "Modern Times Rock'n'Roll" is a bit of a throwaway but still streets ahead of anything you will hear on the Hot Space album. This segues into "Son and Daughter" and feels a lot like Led Zeppelin but a very odd structure permeates it. "Jesus" is not my favourite, in fact it is mediocre at best, but has a fine solo section. It closes with the masterful art rock of "Seven Seas Of Rhye" which is very short but of course later explored at length on subsequent albums. Overall this debut is a grandiose entrance for Queen; the shape of things to come foreshadowing when they became a legendary supergroup.