DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK

I really love the beginnning of this album... Four jewels in a row! Speedking surprises with its hard riffing (we are talking about a 1970's release...) and original keyboard's song, and Bloodsucker is just another punch in your face, with an ever harder riff, and the charismatic Ian Gillan's voice singing with rage (and some incoherence too...) Then, Child in Time comes to give the most progressive, psychedelic and variated moment of the album. This track is just incredible, only supased by its live version... The high pitched Gillan's vocals are one of the heavy metal roots! Then, Flight of the Rat recover the strength of the beginning, but with more groove and a incredible instrumental section, one of my favourite parts of the album... Ritchie Blackmore plays just incredible in this song, specially the guitar entry in 3'57''!

After this carousel of pure genious, the three last songs are not so brilliant... Although they are pretty good! Into the Fire is maybe the weaker and most repetitive track, despite its catchy riff. Living Wreck is also slow and groovy like Into the Fire, but maybe a bit better due to the great keyboard's final solo. Then Hard Lovin' Man recovers some of the outstanding quality and speed of the beginning, giving a fine closing to the album. The final impression is that we have a great work, but not pefect due to some weak moments.

Nevertheless, the disc is variated, funny, deep, interesting... And a true milestone! Led Zeppelin was important to hard rock and progressive rock, and so were Black Sabbath in terms of heavy metal... But I think that Deep Purple created in 1970 some true metal songs. Later, Black Sabbath did the same in Paranoid and specially in Master of Reality... But In Rock is maybe the most clear and brilliant heavy metal root you'll find out there!

And of course, I think this album deserves to be here... It's not strictly progressive, but enough to be considered a Proto-Prog album. Later, bands like Kansas or Uriah Heep they took the Deep Purple influence to build their progressive sound. This hard riffs, mixed with long instrumental sections and some psychedelic elements... The perfect Proto-Prog album!

Best songs: the first four... Just four perfect rock anthems!

Conclusion: if you've not heard this album... Run to buy it yet! Because this is one of the best Deep Purple's albums, and I think it's necessary listening to it to understand the developing of hard rock and heavy metal through the 70's and 80's. And of course, its influence in prog music is also huge... Excellent adition to any music collection!

My rating: ****1/2

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