ÉLÖ OMEGA [Ω IV]

I have listened this album in 1980's, it is live album, on Hungarian, and some of the songs have find their place on omega III. Hard rock, with few beautiful, really beautiful ballads. Music had sense in that time.

This Early Omega live album was recorded at a time when rock music lyrics in the Eastern Bloc were still controversial and when Omega came out with this series of songs it didn`t sit too well with the communist government which controlled their record label, Pepita, so they refused to release it. Somehow it was released through efforts of the group which resulted in poor sound quality and dubbed in audience applause. The music (which had not been previously released) represents the band acquiring maturity as a member of the progressive rock community, converting from their previous more psychedelic stylings. All the tracks on the album were subsequently recorded in English and range from rockers to romantics. The most notable tracks are White Magic Stone and Remembering. Another improved edition of this album can be found in the form of the 1998 release of 200 eyyl az utoslo aboro where the additional title track is added.

Given the odd origin of this live album - issued independently by the band themselves instead of the intended but allegedly censored studio album "200 évvel az utolsó háború után" - it is a very good one. In this period OMEGA lost two band members (who went to form LOKOMOTIV GT) and were struggling with the state-owned record company.

Unless you are more demanding for a higher quality of sound and production, these drawbacks are not so evident on "Elo". OMEGA sounds very powerful and strong on stage. It's still mainly a trendy hard rock sound with several nice ballads, and again one redundant blues improvisation... But, just listen to "Egy nehéz év után","Hútlen barátok" or "Varázslatos, fehér kõ" and you'll experience excellent performing with fiery prog rock energy! Several guitar solos are developing the themes that would be perfectuated on their smash hit "Nem tudom a neved" on "Omega 6" album. For fans of early 70s heavy rock with prog leanings and beautiful psychedelic ballads (such as URIAH HEEP), this is a fine and enjoyable addition.

PERSONAL RATING: 3,5/5

P.A. RATING: 4/5