WINTER SOLSTICE 2005

For a change it is a rather disappointing one. The main reason is the bad recording quality of the show. The sound is rather muffled and the volume is completely out of control: the opening chords often sound louder then the rest of the song, vocals go in and out of focus and the public makes too much noise in between. It's better then an amateur audience bootleg recording but not well enough for an official release.

Now for the music, this album mixes old classics with a few pieces from the album they were touring back then (Bring Me To Your Leader). Right from the start, even out of the chaotic sound, you can pick up that they are giving everything they have again. Unfortunately they don't have everything they used to have anymore...

It takes till song 4 (Seven by Seven) till the sound gets a bit in balance. The version here isn't as gripping as the one on Space Ritual but nevertheless, nice to have it in the setlist again. The same goes for Love In Space, beautiful song on the superior Love In Space live album but forgettable here. And the list goes on, The Right Stuff, Paradox, Spirit of the Age,... All heard in much better performances before.

But Assassins of Allah saves the day. After all those years they still bring on this live monster with conviction and bite. And what's even better, the vibe found on Assassins is maintained throughout Brainstorm/Upside Down and Psychedelic Warlords. Brainstorm is here in the most overwhelming version I've heard and also Psychedelic Warlords is fun. These two tracks are the reason you would want to seek out this album.

I'm sure it must have been quite the experience to be present at this show but the recording of it is too sloppy for anything more then 2 stars.