BÄNG !

After the funk-jazz of INCREASE and the all-out disco-rock of TITANIC, the band reverted to their old, pre-prog heavy rock style. On the one hand, it feels like backward progress, on the other, it seems a more graceful way to age-playing up to your strengths as opposed to trying to keep up with the times in musical idioms that are an ill fit.

No real prog here, save perhaps on the gradually-developing "King of An Island". Some superior surging rockers here, though: "Nuclear Reactor", "Get Ready To Run" and "Greedy Eyes", all of which remain in the band's live repertoire. Frenzel's strained vocals on "Take alarm" and "Doom Boom" are a bit of an unwise idea, but I like to think of them as a bit of a bittersweet epitaph. Frenzel died not long after this album's release.

"Birth Control" follows the steps of their previous release "Deal Done At Night" and display a more (heavy) rock oriented music. This was actually a good surprise and I can only be pleased that they decided to go on that way with this album. Some might call this lack of originality, but while you have listened to "Titanic" and the "Dracula" stuff, I guess that you would agree.

Songs as "Nuclear Reactor" are just as good as what they have produced in their heydays. And when you listen to "Get Ready To Run", you can notice that they have listened to some new wave/punkish bands some years prior this release. The pace of this song is devastating all the way through these four minutes. Dynamite, my friends.

The winning trio is reached with "Greedy Eyes" which is a bouncing song as well, so dynamic and wiiiiiiiild. What a treat!

Following the same strong beat "Doom Doom" is not as good. A bit too long probably (but this won't be a unique event on this album). The more one listens to this album, the more one has to recognize that prog isn't many. It is also true to say that this wasn't a major characteristic of "Birth Control" (except "Backdoor Capabilities").

Some songs sound a little weak as well. Still rocking, but on the very heavy edge "Take Alarm" has no charm at all and "The Day Of Doom." sounds as a poor man's "Iron Maiden" song (the last two minutes being totally superfluous and repetitive).

The crescendo closing number "The King Of An Island" is my fave song from this album (but I am biased in terms of song structure. I just adore crescendo.). The guitar play is simply wonderful. Somewhat MMEB oriented - Solar Fire period (which is a reference).

There is a CD version with three bonus tracks : the single releases of "Nuclear Reactor" and "Get Ready To Run" as well as a 12" release of again "Nuclear Reactor", should you not have enough of it.

Three stars for this good album (and let's forget about the "non essential" stuff, please).