ORION'S BEETHOVEN

I was not overjoyed about their first album. Tercer Milenio continues in the same formula. Hard space rock with some attempts of breaking into the commercial market. Rush was a big name at that time (still is !!!!) and Orion's Beethoven also tries to copy their formula on a couple of tracks without sounding any convincing. The band also sounds like Deep Purple at a couple of tracks too.

This album is more diverse than their debut album and an improvement. The vocals are great and so is the Hammond organ. The latter one (a sure trick to please me) is used too sparingly. The sound is not that great either.

In short, this is a decent to good album. I am afraid it is an album only for the collectors and those into this sound. There is no real good songs on this album, although it has some good melody lines. This is not for me, I am afraid.

2.5 stars

This band from Argentina recorded and released two albums in the mid 1970s. That was during the darkest ages of Argentina when tens of thousands of people were tortured and then murdered. Things were a bit primitive back then and that may explain the sound on this album which is not particular good in today's standards. Well, not even in those days standards too.

Stripped down space rock sometimes mixed with old style hard rock is what we get offered here. The songs are from five minutes long to a couple of almost fifteen minutes long suites. The main instruments are drums, bass and guitars. Some vocals are thrown in too. The sound is dirty and very early 1970s.

The result is not that good. The band is up to the task, but the songs are pretty poor. The quality of them, that is. There are a couple of good tunes here and there. The latter half of Hijo del Relampago for example. But the rest is best forgotten. Sorry, but this is not for me.

2 stars