STORMBRINGER

This is my opinion on this gem, track by track:

Stormbringer: The musical inspiration behind Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild". Fantastic hard 'n' heavy riff with a huge, bold bass line by the great Roger Glover. Richie Blackmore's trippy guitar solo is sensational too, the whole song is a proto-metal masterpiece.

Love Don't Mean A Thing: A bit anti-climax, as this is a "drunk" mid-tempo blues song after a hard rocking thunder. Coverdale does a tremendous job on the genre that he always shines, while the band grooves very well behind him. Pretty good song.

Holy Man: Southern rock in the Skynyrd style, but the vocals are more clear/technical, as one would expect from DP. Seems just OK at first, but as it progresses it offers more and more. Very good song.

Hold On: Heavy Rock 'n' Roll on this one, with Coverdale-Hughes doing a very good job singing part after part consecutively, each on his own style. Very groovy song, makes you wanna dance to the rhythm. The solos by Blackmore and Lord are very simplistic but with rich musicality, great fun. Not a special song, but elevated by the Deep Purple undenied quality.

Lady Double Dealer: Fast groovy rocker, the most radio friendly song of the album, perfect for concerts. I think they 've composed a number of better songs on this style, but this one is nothing less than another hit in their outstanding catalogue.

You Can't Do It Right: Blues rocker that reminds me very much of the Stevie Ray Vaughan trademark sound, but many years before SRV. The riff is excellent, the keyboard solo to the point, everything is high quality on this song! I would just want it to be more powerful, more aggressive. A really great song though!

High Ball Shooter: Maybe the less special song of the album. Totally simplistic with nothing that they haven't done many times before, and better. An OK song, but if I was to cut out one song from the album it would be this one.

The Gypsy: Timeless. Once you listen to this riff once, you never forget it. Classic example of the Blackmore greatness; he rarely composes technically difficult riffs, but so many of them are brilliant that it's mind blowing.

Soldier Of Fortune:Oh the kingliness! Bow down ladies and gentlemen, to the Masters that conclude a fantastic album with a hymn like this.

RATING: We have not one, not two but FOUR classics here! Stormbringer, Lady Double Dealer, The Gypsy and Soldier Of Fortune are of the highest quality, easily included among the best DP songs. This and the general quality of the album dictate that it can't be rated lower than 4 stars. Classic!

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