JOURNEY

"Journey" is the third full-length studio album by UK rock artist Kingdom Come (marketed in the US as Arthur Brown´s Kingdom Come). The album was released through Polydor Records in April 1973. It´s the successor the 1972 eponymously titled album and it features a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as keyboard player Michael Harris has been replaced by Victor Peraino, and drummer Martin Steer has left. The latter has not been replaced and instead lead vocalist Arthur Brown has programmed the drums on the early drum machine Bentley Rhythm Ace, making "Journey" one of the earliest albums in rock history to solely feature a drum machine instead of a human drummer. The addition of Peraino to the ranks has meant an increase in the use of mellotron and synthesizers.

But "Journey" is in most ways a departure from the sound of the first two Kingdom Come albums. They took a completely different approach to songwriiting (apart from dropping acid...which of course they still did) as they centered the other instruments and vocals around the drum machine patterns which Brown had programmed. Gone are the 60s influenced blues- and hard rock riffs and rhythms (there are still some guitar riffs on the album but they are sparse and generally more chugging and heavy), the whimsical theatrical sections, and the jazz/rock and progressive rock influences of the first albums, and instead Kingdom Come introduce an avantgardish, futuristic, and doom laden electronic laced space rock style which is quite progressive on its own terms considering that this was released in 1973. I´d describe this as the bastard child of Hawkwind, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk (mixed with some late 70s horror soundtrack Goblin and you´re just about there). Brown´s distinct Tom Jones type voice and vocal delivery are used in other (almost desperate) ways (maybe except for on "Come Alive", where he sounds more like his old self), but he still sounds great here. He actually quite often lets the music speak and there are many instrumental parts during the album´s playing time.

"Journey" features a layered, detailed, and intriguing sound production, which in many ways sound like something out of the early 80s and definitely not something released in 1973. This is an album way ahead of its time...

While the first two Kingdom Come albums arguably are great releases in their own rights, I don´t hesitate to call "Journey" their masterpiece. It´s a very unique album, but it´s not just weird or experimental for the sake of it. No... this album features memorable songwriting and it has the ability to provide emotional impact on the listener. A high quality release in all departments, which deserves a lot more attention. Sadly this would be their last album release in their original run as they disbanded in 1974. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.