OPERATION

The first in what would be many, many changes on the organist's stool announced OPERATION's arrival. Hartmut Scheulgens takes over on organ (the album does NOT feature Reinhold Sobotta!) and the band leave the 60's psychedelia in the dust, opting for a (for 1971) modern hard rock sound inspired (obviously) by Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. As with most early BC albums, there's little here that's particularly "progressive", apart from your usual early 70's classical flirtation (i.e.: the orchestration on "Let Us Do It Now"), as well as the extended jamming that was so in fashion at the time.

As usual, Bernd Noske blows any and all competition away when it comes to hard rock vocalizing. Too bad so few followed his example, opting for the annoying "screech and strain" mould instead. The songs are all resonably strong, but only the anti-war anthem "The Work Is Done" had much of a life beyond this album, becoming a fixture of their live act.