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HIGH TONES

Diabolus

Prog Related


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Diabolus High Tones album cover
4.03 | 61 ratings | 4 reviews | 23% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1972

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Lonely Days (7:10)
2. Night Clouded Moon (5:46)
3. 1002 Nights (4:48)
4. 3 Pieces Suite (7:05)
5. Lady of the Moon (3:56)
6. Laura Sleeping (8:04)
7. Spontenuity (8:20)
8. Raven's Call (6:18)

Total Time 51:27

Line-up / Musicians

- John Hadfield / lead guitar & vocals
- Anthony Hadfied / bass, vocals
- Philip Howard / flute, keyboards, saxophone, organ, piano
- Ellwood Von Seibold / drums

Releases information

LP Bellaphon Music (BLPS 19068)
Reissued on Sunrise Records

This band actually never knew that their album was released. It came as a surprise to them when they heard about it and its esoteric success in 2005. A website about them is here:-

DiabolustheBand

Ellwood von Seibold now runs a d-day battlefield tour business in Normandy France called ddaybattlefield tours and can be found at:

ddaybattletours

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Snow Dog for the last updates
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DIABOLUS High Tones ratings distribution


4.03
(61 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of rock music(23%)
23%
Excellent addition to any rock music collection(49%)
49%
Good, but non-essential (25%)
25%
Collectors/fans only (3%)
3%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

DIABOLUS High Tones reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by GruvanDahlman
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars The story of Diabolus is similar to many of their peers, those unfortunate but talented outfits doomed for oblivion. Only, that is, to be rediscovered years later and thus gaining some recognition. It has to be said, however, that Diabolus is still a very unknown band which deservedly ought to be slightly more appreciated by a larger group of people.

First I'd like to give Diabolus the bad news. They are not really groundbreaking. There. With that said I would like to put forth the good news. Those are that the sole album by this band is a great mixture of all that was happening in the music scene back then, and really the british scene since they are from the UK. The music is a blend of jazz-rock, folk and progressive leanings. I can recall sounds of Jethro Tull, Gravy Train, Cressida, Julian Jay Savarin, Black Widow, Sunday and others from around 1969-1972. It is to me a very pleasant sounding mix, filling me with joy and goose bumps. Though warm it is still sort of ominous and exciting. Diabolus managed to produce an album of highly creative music and resembles the vision of a band bubbling with commitment to music.

I would say that all tracks are very good and none of the songs stick out in a bad way, which sometimes can be the case. The songs are really well matched, though they are different from each other. Ranging from gentleness to all out raucious jazz-rock, the tapestry is a highly intelligent and enjoyable one. I cannot really pick out any track as the superior one, it is really a matter of picking anyone.

The flute, keyboards and drums are all there, alongside great guitar playing and good vocals. If you are into vintage prog this could well be an album for you. Splendid, magnificent and sadly overlooked it is a great piece of history from a time when progressive music really was in it's prime and making. Top stuff!

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars This is one off those albums I wish every Prog Rock fan could hear at least once. Sure it has those commercial sounding moments like the chorus on the opener "Lonely Days" and there's some faster vocals I don't like on the closer that come and go or the vocal style on that traditional song "Night Clouded Moon". But man the rest is gravy with that flute, sax or guitar leading the way. A very British sounding album, especially the vocals that bring to mind Proto Prog. I thought this might be under Jazz here but "get" the Prog-Related tag with the commercial aspect of this record. RAW MATERIAL would be a good reference but the vocals especially the harmonies bring the 60's to mind big time unlike that band I just referenced. So Jazz related you could say with some Folk and those 60's sounding vocals. It sounds older than the year they recorded it which was 1971. A four piece out of the UK with brothers on guitar, bass and vocals along with drums and a multi-instrumentalist playing organ, piano, keyboards, sax and flute. A warm sounding album from a time long past.

Latest members reviews

4 stars Diabolus were not only obscure by their name but also managed to craft a unique blend of music with elements of folk, hard-rock, proto-prog and jazz. Very much instrumentally and jam oriented, there is plenty of great interplay without going over the edge. There is great balance between mellow f ... (read more)

Report this review (#2691032) | Posted by sgtpepper | Wednesday, February 9, 2022 | Review Permanlink

5 stars What a great forgotten band. Love them. They are very unique. A blend of Jazzy jethro tull, with long passages and lovely music. What a shame they were lost and now I am glad they are found and I strongly recommend them. The first song is a strong opener varies from Jazz to rock, flutes, saxoph ... (read more)

Report this review (#552594) | Posted by progshachar | Wednesday, October 19, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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