ABOMINOG

This is the resurrection of Uriah Heep. Yes, the band was really dead after the "Conquest" album. Not that the record was bad (actually it is very good and criminally underrated by many fans) but it comes that after its release the band was in the grip of a big turmoil: Ken Hensley, John Sloman, Chris Slade and Trevor Bolder they all left.

The mighty Heep came back into life only thanks to the perseverance and determination of Mick Box and his fellow Lee Kerslake who decided to return to the fold and take on the drums' duties after the brief experience with Ozzy Osbourne. The iron will of these two high class musicians (and men) made possible for the Uriah Heep spirit to get a new body, as three-fifths of the line- up were new-entries: first of all, Pete Goalby as vocalist and frontman (from Trapeze), John Sinclair on keys and Bob Daisley on bass (formerly with Ozzy Osbourne).

I think that the sound of "Abominog" is superb, clearly updated with that new wave of heavy metal hailing then from Britain. The opener "Too Scared to Run" is one of the best and more aggressive tunes I ever heard in the band's huge catalogue. An instant classic. Even in its (few) quietest moments this album sounds fresh as never before. It features no less than 5 covers ("On the Rebound", "Running All Night", "That's the Way That It Is", "Hot Night in a Cold Town" and "Prisoner") but you wouldn't tell given that the band manages very well to create a convincing sound. I mean that each and every one of the 10 tracks stands upright on its own merit. So this is a record that is best not to avoid.