ONWARD

Onward, always onward, high esteem - HAWKWIND, a band which - not only perceived - is underway for ages now, where the sound has not significantly changed over the course. As for that it's really astonishing how - respectively where - they are obtaining this spirit over and over. Fair enough at least when it comes to the amazing forerunner 'Blood Of The Earth', especially due to the new collaboration with Niall Hone. And now - beforehand - my summary concerning this new effort: there's nothing to complain here. Okay, the formula is clear - true to their principles the band once more is offering rock music featuring mindblowing spaced out atmosphere as well as some minor wild garage/punk attitude.

You can detect some real treasures again, whereat I will concentrate on furthermore. On CD1 we have the shining Mind Cut for example, a highly melodic ballad with acoustic guitar support. Death Trap works with garage/punk ingredients similar to Krankschaft, whereas the fluffy Southern Cross - while showcasing extraordinary synth contributions - follows as a wonderful atmospheric thingy with oriental touch due to the percussion. The groovy The Drive By rounds the first medium up with soaring guitar, charming organ and spooky synths.

This is how it also flows on CD2 basically - with the exception, that three live tracks are added here, where The Flowering Of The Rose appears as a truely inspiring uptempo jam, even provided with some headbanging qualities. Finally the untitled heavy rocking finish transforms into a spacey synth excursion towards the end. 'Onward' sounds like a new concept album quasi - at least the songs mostly blend into each other, building up a rather entertaining collection. Okay, of course this could have been compressed on a single CD in the end, but ... what the hell ... take it as it comes, basta!