FIREBALL

Often overshadowed by younger brother ''Machine Head'' and older brother ''In Rock'', Fireball is an album missed by many. Very different from it's brethren, especially more bluesy, and sometimes quite heavy, Fireball is a new experience all it's own. A solid offering that demands listening.

The album opens as the name suggests, with a FIREBALL. The blistering title track is a great indicator of where heavy metal would eventually go and is likely one of the bands heaviest tracks to date. Blackmore hits the stings and Gillian wails away, making FIREBALL a essential Deep Purple [DP] track. The album takes a more bluesy note from here on in. NO NO NO is definately more down that blues road. A bit longer and more zoned out than the title track, this song still features all the things that make DP great. High vocals, great guitar, the whole sha-bang. THE MULE is a track often overlooked, a great song with a great instrumental breakdown that leads into the even better FOOLS. While itmay not be as powerful as ''Child in Time'', THE MULE still features some great, classic moments, if a bit lower in speed and aggression. NO ONE CAME ends the album powerfully, just as FIREBALL started it. A heavy, fast track with some quirky lyrics (a theme that seems to go to town here) and some great moments all around.

Then there's the middle. The two middle tracks, with their quirks lyrics and more blues approach, are a bit strange on the album, but they work none the less. STRANGE KIND OF WOMAN (which is what my issue came with, not ''Demon Eye'') is a great, classic DP song that sounds like a precursor to their ''Machine Head'' album, with some very odd lyrics. Listen and judge for yourself I suppose. ANYONE'S DAUGHTER actually goes so far into blues that it's almost out the other end and into country territory. Luckily it doesn't, and it manages to mix DP's playing with some very comical and strange lyrics to make something that's actually rather enjoyable. Even if it throws you off the first time.

Rating time!

4 stars! Excellent addition to the prog-library! Tracks like THE MULE and FOOLS are definately worth having, while people more into the rock side of DP will enjoy FIREBALL and NO ONE CAME, as well as STRANGE KIND OF WOMAN. Recommended for DP fans, hard rock fans, and prog rock fans in general.

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