HIGH AND MIGHTY

When HIGH AND MIGHTY came out, i didn't have any great expectations as the last 2 URIAH HEEP albums were kind of a downer. But to my surprise, when i got it, i liked it right away and still do very much after all those years.

First of all, KEN HENSLEY re-took total control of the writing duties wit a little help of JOHN WETTON here and there. I guess democracy was not a good concept for this band. And guess what, KEN HENSLEY came back quite inspired; not at the level from LOOK AT YOURSELF or DEMONS AND WIZARDS as there are a pair of stinkers on then-side 2, but the rest is high quality.

What was the first side of the album, the first 4 tracks are all great! the opener ''ONE WAY OR ANOTHER iis sung by...JOHN WETTON lead is a ver powerful hard rocker, yet with the classic melodic touch URIAH HEEP is known for. After that, the band show us that it still can produce magical songs like they used to at the beginning. What is there not to like on WEEP IN SILENCE and this magnificent guitar : a 10/10 UH song; just plain beautiful. MIDNIGHT is one of the other highlight of the album, the most proggish track; nice bass and mellotron from WETTON and of course another gorgeous melody sung by the divine BYRON; could have come from on any URIAH HEEP cd from the golden age.

Even the guitar of Mick box who again has been relocated in the background on this album sounds magnificent when he is allowed to showcase his talent; not too many notes played, just the ones that count, the nice ones.

The other side of the album is not as strong as the first one, but it's still way up compared to RETURN TO FANTASY or WONDERWORLD. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW is another one of those ''magical'' moments offered by the band; a very emotional melody played wonderfully by all 5 members where DAVID BYRON shines again. Who knew it would be the last time?? You have also some average tracks like ''CAN'T KEEP A GGOD BAND DOWN'' or ''MAKE A LIITLE LOVE'' kind of american-style boogies not really a URIAH HEEP strength; but MICK BOX is having some good fun with them at least! not bad, but not super. And CONFESSION is a perfect gentle ballad to close this very good album.

That would be the last album of an era; the golden era of URIAH HEEP; the singer DAVID BYRON will be shown the door, but after that would never be the same band. DAVID BYRON was URIAH HEEP. (RIP)

I can't give the 5 stars treatment to this album as it is not perfect but 4 stars for sure

4 STARS

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