SALISBURY

A quite big (I mean BIG) step forward for the band, and it´s my favorite of the three LPs the band recorded before they became an international smash with Demons And Wizzards. the music here is much more focused, melodic and sophisticated than on the debut. Production also helped a lot, but the main reason might be Hensley´s songwriting ability: he writes or co-writes all the tracks on this album. Davi Byron´s voice reached a new height (see The Park) and Mick Box guitar solos also developed, showing some interesting subtleties on many parts. Backing vocals are good and original as ever.

The tracklist is far superior to the first album and Time to Live is the only song I can think that would fit that record. but the best one is their 16 minute epic title track. This big suite is probably one of Uriah Heep´s most daring and bombastic works of their entire career. It is only a pity that they never tried to work longer orchestraded pieces again. Nevertheless it stands even today as their most interesting and progressive efford ever.

A very promising record that showed the band could (and would) go very far. Salisbury is best known for the LP that had the original version of Lady In Black, but it is much more than that. Glad to see that there are no fillers of any kind. 3,5 stars that I´m glad to round up for 4.