RESTORATION

Old bands seem not disappear, although their founding members die. Rolling Stones is continuing after Charlie Watt's death, so does ZZ Top after Dusty Hill's death. I really thought Colosseum will end after Jon Hiseman's death and it was big surprise to me when someone told they're coming to Finland again. Before this album I was glad about it, not sure anymore. There are three new members: Kim Nishikawara in sax, Nick Steed in keyboards and Malcom Mortimore in drums. The latter two are longtime musicians and played with many artists. Didn't find any information, why Barbara Thompson and Dave Greenslade aren't in Colosseum anymore. Really it can be heard in this album that Dave's absence is big loss.

'First In Line' is promising beginning! It reminds slightly 'Lost Angeles'. But where's sax? It comes into last minutes and then everything's fine! But mood changes into 'Hesitation', it's hardrock piece with too heavy guitarsound. Really don't like modern synths in the middle of it, luckily they're not on the top. But again direction changes: 'Need Somebody' is really good feeling bluesballad. 'Tonight' is even slower ballad, where Clem & Chris are singing together. Not bad, but little bit mediocre. 'A Cowboys`s Song' is another highlight in this album. It mix together hard rock riff and beautiful melodies. 'Innocence' is again little bit mediocre funky blues-piece. 'If Only Dreams Were Like This' is more Colosseum II-track in it's guitar and synth dominate fusionjazz.'I'll Shown You Mine' is a heavy-blues piece sung by Clempson. I think Cream could have made this kind of song if they had recorded new material in their reunion. 'Home By Dawn' is standard blues song with slight jazz flavor. 'Story Of the Blues' ends album quite the same way as previous piece, except tempo is faster.

Absolutely this is the weakest Colosseum album. Not sure why they made it, because bands haven't needed new album as excuse to go on tour in last decades. I don't hear that joy of playing anymore, that is those 3 former after reunion albums. But the weakest part is songmaterial. It's obvious when Greenslade made over half of the songmaterial and also mostly the best of them, the rest just can't make enough good stuff. One thing also seems often be wrong in these old bands new albums today. When recording has become very easy with the new digital equipment, it often seems to make fast and cheap. In this album as some others specially drums are sounding very awful in many songs. I believe Hiseman had standards how he's drums had to sound in Colosseum album, but new drummer Mortimore seemed not care about that. I believe me and also other in the fortcoming Colosseum concert will not be sad, if they're not playing anything from this album. But this album is not poor, it deserves two stars.