DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK

Deep Purple, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, helped to usher in heavy metal for the early 70s. In Rock marks the first studio album with the Mark II or classic lineup (the live orchestra album preceded it), featuring Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, and Roger Glover. Each member proved to be archetypal players: Gillan screams influenced metallers like Rob Halford; Ian Paice's aggressive yet technical drums can be heard in Neil Peart, among others; Jon Lord's aggressive keyboards set the stage for prog metal ivory ticklers; Roger Glover's poundign bass gave it the metallic edge, and Ritchie Blackmore's guitar is the primary influence for neo-classical music.

In Rock was the loudest album of its time without question. From the opening cacophony in Speed King to the shrieks of Child in Time to the final notes of Hard Lovin Man, this album never lets up.

"Speed King" starts the album with crashing guitars and drums that fade into a soft keyboard sound before launching back in with Gillan's screams. A great rocker, ths is one of Purple's best songs. The riff and bassline make this a chugging classic.

Bloodsucker loses no momentum as Gillan continues to belt his trademark multi-octave screams.

Child in Time is my favorite Purple track ever. It's Gillan's best performznce, as he shrieks over building volume until it erupts in Blackmore's finest solo ever complemented by Lord's interplay. The song is ten minutes but feel so much shorter, and the final cacophony will leave you panting.

Flight of the Rat marks the emergence of Ian Gillan's signature loopy lyrics. How can such meaningless words be so convincing? TO me Gillan's lyrics are some of rock's best because he manages to make the dumbest, silliest crap work perfectly. Lord gets his moment in the spotlight here.

Into the Fire is a groovy song that breaks up the fast pace of the album, though it's no less crushing.

Livin Wreck features a great disorted noise from Lord over a slightly softer Gillan.

Hard Lovin Man closes the album propelled by Paice, while Blackmore andLord muster enough strength to destroy what's left of their instruments.

In Rock sounds a bit dated today, but it is still a classic of hard rock, though it's not very proggy. Along with Machine Head, Fireball, and Made In Japan, this album helped to cement the bad as legends.