HIGH TONES

What a great forgotten band. Love them. They are very unique. A blend of Jazzy jethro tull, with long passages and lovely music. What a shame they were lost and now I am glad they are found and I strongly recommend them. The first song is a strong opener varies from Jazz to rock, flutes, saxophones, soft singing, somewhat sounds like symphonic bands a bit like Cressida, but then they come back to their unique style. The second song "night clouded moon" starts with great flute together with singing, almost a competition, and then it starts to rock, very speedy with the flute all the way. It is very melodic and is one of the best moments in the album. At times it is very Jethro tully. "1002 nights" - is also beautiful, again the flute, quieter rhythm. "3 pieces suite " very unique melodic singing with nice guitar, flute of course, it gets quieter and then it blasts in the middle very energetic, so beautiful, a long guitar solo and again power music. "Lady of the moon " nice energetic piece, more rocky, again the flute. "Laura Sleeping " around 8 minutes starts quietly and then rocks, very melodically, great singing. "Spontenuity" the longest song - 0820 - sounds like "Gravy train" and then a bit Jazzy with saxophone and a long drums piece. "Raven's call " the last song again very powerful and melodic, fast singing with lots of rhythm changes. Great ending to a great album , a great band. A pity they made only this one album

The story of Diabolus is similar to many of their peers, those unfortunate but talented outfits doomed for oblivion. Only, that is, to be rediscovered years later and thus gaining some recognition. It has to be said, however, that Diabolus is still a very unknown band which deservedly ought to be slightly more appreciated by a larger group of people.

First I'd like to give Diabolus the bad news. They are not really groundbreaking. There. With that said I would like to put forth the good news. Those are that the sole album by this band is a great mixture of all that was happening in the music scene back then, and really the british scene since they are from the UK. The music is a blend of jazz-rock, folk and progressive leanings. I can recall sounds of Jethro Tull, Gravy Train, Cressida, Julian Jay Savarin, Black Widow, Sunday and others from around 1969-1972. It is to me a very pleasant sounding mix, filling me with joy and goose bumps. Though warm it is still sort of ominous and exciting. Diabolus managed to produce an album of highly creative music and resembles the vision of a band bubbling with commitment to music.

I would say that all tracks are very good and none of the songs stick out in a bad way, which sometimes can be the case. The songs are really well matched, though they are different from each other. Ranging from gentleness to all out raucious jazz-rock, the tapestry is a highly intelligent and enjoyable one. I cannot really pick out any track as the superior one, it is really a matter of picking anyone.

The flute, keyboards and drums are all there, alongside great guitar playing and good vocals. If you are into vintage prog this could well be an album for you. Splendid, magnificent and sadly overlooked it is a great piece of history from a time when progressive music really was in it's prime and making. Top stuff!

This is one off those albums I wish every Prog Rock fan could hear at least once. Sure it has those commercial sounding moments like the chorus on the opener "Lonely Days" and there's some faster vocals I don't like on the closer that come and go or the vocal style on that traditional song "Night Clouded Moon". But man the rest is gravy with that flute, sax or guitar leading the way. A very British sounding album, especially the vocals that bring to mind Proto Prog. I thought this might be under Jazz here but "get" the Prog-Related tag with the commercial aspect of this record. RAW MATERIAL would be a good reference but the vocals especially the harmonies bring the 60's to mind big time unlike that band I just referenced. So Jazz related you could say with some Folk and those 60's sounding vocals. It sounds older than the year they recorded it which was 1971. A four piece out of the UK with brothers on guitar, bass and vocals along with drums and a multi-instrumentalist playing organ, piano, keyboards, sax and flute. A warm sounding album from a time long past.

Diabolus were not only obscure by their name but also managed to craft a unique blend of music with elements of folk, hard-rock, proto-prog and jazz. Very much instrumentally and jam oriented, there is plenty of great interplay without going over the edge. There is great balance between mellow flute-driven parts and dynamic typical proto- prog rock with hard rock elements. Of special note is great drumming still rooted in the 60's British psychedelia. Vocals are sparse but no need to be ashamed of them, we encounter good enough harmonies in the first two tracks. Despite long instrumental jams, there are actually good melodies and composition structure for such a no-name band. The only weaker spot for me is the unnecessary drum solo but at least it's not too disruptive staying at the fast rhythm speed. Highly recommended as a documentary how fascinating the early 70's in the British proto-prog were.