CONQUEST

Not a bad album, but neither a good one. Ken Hensley´s last UH work is very different from anything they´ve done before. The main problem here is that the songs are not very inspired and the line up simply is not working properly. John Sloman tries hard to do his job, but it seems that his choice for vocalist was wrong. Not that he is a bad singer (he is good), but quite simply he does not fit in. And that´s the impression this CD gives you in the end: they are just trying too hard. Something´s clearly missing.

There are some pleasant tunes, although the sound is less rock and more jazzy. The opener No Return, sets the scene: different arrangements, different tune, some tupical UH backing vocals for good mesure, but little excitment. And the second track, Imagination, does not even bear any of Hensley´s trademark writings. Feelings is much more like a track taken from Fallen Angel (not one of their best albums, though). And so it goes: average to good songs, but no highlights. The final irony is the last track, It Ain´t Easy, a good ballad, written and sung by....bassist Trevor Bolder.

This is surely a CD for the ones who have all Uriah Heep´s major albums and even then, one should listen to it before buying it. Collectors/fans only.