WAKE THE SLEEPER

When Classic Rock magz previous edition featured Uriah Heep's llatest album "Wake The Sleeper" by saying that this legendary band is now more Purple than Purple, I was truly astonished and proud! Oh yeah . this is one of pioneer bands that I listened to the first time I knew the term "rock" music when I was a child. In the past people said that this band was in between Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin even though I disagree with this dictum. And I tell you what .! When I spun the Summer of Rock CD from the magz I find that Uriah Heep "Overload" is truly different than usual Uriah Heep music especially in the way Mick Box plays his guitar. So . I did purchase the CD from Amazon UK and it arrived last week.

I's good to be back!

The opening track "Wake The Sleeper" is really a big surprise for me because this is what I would say: "Uriah Heep's respond to Dream Theater". Well, this is basically a power metal track with fast tempo. One thing that Heep has never done in their entire career and this is the fastest tempo - I think. It has no lyrics but the choirs only and the music really remind me to power progressive metal. I think the new drummer Russel Gilbrook brings this new kind of style into the band's music horizon. I am really happy that Uriah Heep plays this kind of music. Next track "Overload" is another excellent track which has new sound of Mick Box guitar work combined with the band's legendary sound. "Tears of The World" still present the heavy side of Uriah Heep music like the first two tracks. This track reminds me to the tune "Love Machine" of Look AT Yourself album, the band's classic. It has all the energy and dynamics of the oldies of Heep. Bernie Shaw's vocal is excellent back with great choirs, the unique characteristic of Heep sound. Box also demonstrates his guitar solo as past days style.

"Light Of A Thousand Stars" brings the music down into medium tempo while "Heaven's Rain" starts off with a music where the organ reminds us to the days when Ken Hensley was still in the band. Unfortunately, this is just a mundane stuff, nothing special about it. "Book Of Lies" tries to bring the music up but it does not really have a good melody or riffs to attract me. "What Kind Of God" is a mellow track with good lyrics. I like the drumming at approximately minute 3:52 even though it does not help elevate the attractiveness of the whole song.

"Ghost Of The Ocean" is quite energetic especially with great guitar solo by Box and the overall music brings me back to the band's "Return To Fantasy" album. Again, Bernie demonstrates his good quality of vocal here. The song has a good interlude as well. "Angels Walk With You" was written by Trevor Bolder in ballad style. It has good opening track in mellow style and it moves into riffs-based music with good combination of guitar and organ work. "Shadow" is a riff-based song with very nice intro and it moves in a good flow through the vocal of Bernie. The album concludes nicely with "War Child" which combines melody and riffs. It's interesting to close the chapter. The interlude part with guitar solo is nice.

Overall this is a very good album and there are excellent tracks as well. If Heep can maintain the excellent tracks in the middle of the album as they demonstrate at the first three tracks as well as last tracks of the album, it can be considered as excellent album. I salute the band can still make a music which carries its past identity. Keep on progging!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)