URIAH HEEP, Outsider Album.

Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep all had become top bands in the early 1970s – and each was one of  the so called “Big 4” at the time. Myself as a child born of the 1960’s, I’ve had the pleasure to grow up with these groups and watch as their individual styles changed over the years and they became more popular.

Uriah Heep are just one of these many bands that still give countless fans a real buzz when they perform. The new album ‘ Outsider’ continues this evolving evolution that will keep old fans and new following the guys into 2014 and beyond. With eleven blistering tracks , this album is packed full of surprise, yet keeping alive the original spirit of Uriah Heep.  The well loved consistences of the epic keyboard work, to the ever lasting smooth vocals of Bernie Shaw, is what this group are all about. Without these for me, Uriah Heep just wouldn’t be the same band!

The first song is called ‘Speed Of Sound‘, is just exactly what you want from U.H. From start to finish as always, a great use of the organ in it’s pure form. Bernie’s vocals and lyrics take this song to a new level with the very catchy chorus, this is a song i,m sure will have you putting it on repeat.  Next up is ‘One Minute‘ a song taken from the album and made into the latest single. With a gentle solo piano introduction, what I thought would be a quiet ballad opens into a really great song, I,ve had to play it a few times already ( 10 to be precise )!  Each time round it just sounds better and better, and you start to hear all the little tweaks the guy’s worked hard to  produce. The harmony’s on this song are absolutely spot on, and as you can now tell, it was a pleasure to listen too. Again I reckon this is a sure fire hit, and if it’s not high in the charts soon there must be something wrong with folks!! The next three tracks take you back to the old feel of  U.H.  A bit of a nostalgia trip new young fans will enjoy, and older seasoned fans will really enjoy!

‘Is Anyone Gonna Help Me‘ a harder rock sounding song. This one has plenty of heavy lead guitar accompanied by the ever present keyboards, nice percussion and bass lines. I could go on and on about it, but as always the proofs in the listening! So just go buy it, kick back and let these brilliant professional musicians do their stuff.  ‘Can’t Take That Away‘  just a stunning piece of work! I loved the drum beat to this song,it’s one that needs to be played LOUD!  Just a master class in how to make a good solid rock song without any of the fussiness some bands try far too hard to embellish on tracks with unnecessary guitar twiddling . If a song needs twiddly bits, all well and good. If not, why do it? Less is more people!!  The second to last song is called ‘Kiss The Rainbow‘,  a slow rising intro on guitar introduces you to a cracker of a song. This one is a great power ballad with again Bernie’s excellent lead vocals, and the harmony’s from the rest of the guys are absolutely spot on.

Over all, it’s a blinder of an album for 2014 that might just shake up your rockin nanoids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EylsjEqvNKQ

URIAH HEEP is:
Mick Box: Guitars, Vocals
Phil Lanzon: Keyboards, Vocals
Bernie Shaw: Lead Vocals
Russell Gilbrook: Drums, Vocals
Dave Rimmer: Bass, Vocals

Track List:

Speed Of Sound

One Minute

The Law

The Outsider

Rock The Foundation

Anybody Gonna Help Me

Looking At You

Can’t Take That Away

Jesse

Kiss The Rainbow

Say Goodbye 

Confirmed Tour Dates:

JULY 
10.07.14 Sierre Sierre Blues Festival Switzerland
25.07.14 Nova Gorica Rock Batuje Slovenia
30.07.14 Lauchheim Schloss Kapfenburg Germany

AUGUST 
01.08.14 Graz Seerock Festival Austria
06.08.14 Schaffhausen Stars In Town Switzerland 
30.08.14 Stadtallendorf SUMMER-ROCK open air Germany