GETTING THERE

No surprise with this "Birth Control" studio album. The band keeps on with his tradition of releasing good albums one after another. Very few blunders (two) in their long career (twenty nine years at the time of this release!). I guess that lots of bands would sign for such a performance.

Faithful to his genre, the band delivers another good hard to heavy rock album. Huge organ all the way through and strong guitar are the band's trade mark.

Several good hard-rock songs like the opener which is one of the best track of this work ("When The Night Falls"). A fine melody and a passionate guitar solo do punctuate this song quite remarkably. But the whole album is pleasant, if you would take under consideration that very little prog is to be listened.

Songs like "Garden Of Gold", "Love Strike" are truly heavy oriented. But these keyboards are just magical. I know that I have already made the comparison several times but the shadow of an Hensley and Lord have accompanied the band throughout their long life. Adding some specials to their simple but attractive music.

The combination keyboards and inspired guitar works pretty well again in "Simpler As It Seems". A highlight of this album, very much in the style of the opener. A few tracks are somewhat behind: "All That I Want" and its slow paced rhythm so typical of this genre. Heavy riff à la Sabbath and again a superb guitar solo to rescue this song. Even when the band plays an average song, there is always one ingredient that raises the quality level. Amazing.

The instrumental title track is a contrasted one. A first part totally uninspired and a very good second one, thanks to guess what? Yes, the guitar of course. The longest song of this album "The Rose" (just over seven minutes) is a rock ballad which starts on the acoustic guitar and is all subtlety and softness (except for the vocals which are rather raw). Emotional guitar as usual.

Do you want a simple and straight forward hard-rock tune? You'll get it with "Hard Times" and its pumping organ. To be completed, I would say that the last two songs are the weakest ones. A repetitive Will Someone Know My Name and an average intrumental again (After 360 Degrees Of The Cycle).

3Getting There is a good album from this German band who would deserve a bit more of your attention. Of course their style is not fully prog, but when you listen to the great work of their guitar player (Peter Engelhardt), you can only be respectful. Well done Peter. Three stars (and a half if it would be possible).