SALISBURY

"Salisbury" is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK semi-progressive hard rock act Uriah Heep. The album was released through Mercury/Vertigo in January/february 1971 (US/UK release dates respectively) While being a relatively enjoyable release, the debut album "Very 'eavy...Very 'umble (1970)" didn´t exactly do much for me and unfortunately that´s the only Uriah Heep I listened to for many years. "Salisbury" is a totally different creature and I´m glad that I got the opportunity (and took it) to take a listen to this album. The UK and the US releases have different tracklists as "Bird of Prey", the opening track from the UK release, was replaced by "Simon The Bullet Freak" on the US version. I recommend getting either the 1996 remastered CD version or the 2003 expanded deluxe CD version where both songs are included.

The basic organ and guitar driven bluesy hard rock from the debut is still present on "Salisbury", but the sound on "Salisbury" is much more progressive and adds many new elements to Uriah Heep´s style. The two hard rocking tracks "Time To Live" and "High Priestess" are probably the tracks that remind me the most of the debut but the excellent "Bird of Prey", the progressive "The Park", the folky "Lady In Black" and the epic 16:02 minute long title track, which features a 24-piece orchestra, are all very different from the songs on the debut. The band are well playing and I have to give a special mention to lead vocalist David Byron who is quite fantastic in my book. He has a very varied vocal style and can go from powerful hard rocking vocals to softer styled vocals to his trademark high pitched vocals. I mentioned this in my review of the debut album but I´ll mention it again here. Those high pitched vocals must have been one of the main influences on artists like Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and King Diamond (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate).

The sound production is powerful and much better sounding than the sound on the debut.

"Salisbury" has ignited my interest in Uriah Heep like the debut never accomplished and I think it´s an excellent progressive hard rock album. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.