A Winter's Tale by MAGNUM (Prog Related)

I have often had discussions with my friends about Magnum and their music. To my Metallers friends Magnum is a group of Prog, AOR or at most, given that are much (too much for some my friends) melodic. To my Progsters friends Magnum are Heavy Metal, AOR or better (or at most, because their music is too hard) Class Metal (although not able to say exactly what it is... They put in Class Metal also Uriah Heep for the 80's production!). If I go to ask the part totally Prog Metal of my friends that they meet me that Savatage, Angra, Dream Theater are Prog Metal and that Rush are the inventors of Prog Metal. But admit that not familiar with Magnum and then meet in historical terms. Beyond all this my idea is this: Magnum are one of the first MWOBHM bands. But their music have too big roots in Classic Prog and because this fact Magnum plays a perfect fusion between 70's Hard Rock/ Heavy Rock and Classic Prog! In my opinion it is true this sentence: Magnum are the Prog band of NWOBHM! But if I say to all my friends tell me that can not exist in NWOBHM a Prog band. Almost NWOBHM describes a genre and not a movement! I consider, for not mistaken, Magnum the inventors of Class Metal and, for the avoidance of doubt, a full Prog band!

This DVD is recorded in December 22nd, 1992 in Birmingham Town Hall. Magnum played in house!

In my humble opinion the beginning is a little weak, since 'All England's Eyes' is a song that I find quite annoying. Also 'Vigilante' not impressed me: I expected a more aggressive version. Instead what I appreciated from the first minute is the quality of shots. The director uses the cameras really well, managing to capture the emotions that the musicians forward. Also because although Bob Catley is not a stage animal has a truly impressive stage presence. Also the peeled Tony Clarkin not disappoint. But the song that struck me most was 'Kingdom Of Madness' here becomes very epic. I must say that Magnum is one of the groups on stage are among the best that I have observed (in this case only on this DVD, unfortunately) and award-winning company Clarkin / Catley always work in perfect manner. Even the idea of including a Christmas section in concert with a Father Christmas is great. For me it was a big beautiful surprise. I would not say that the location (a good theater) has helped to found successful... Or that on the Christmas atmosphere... But the thing is really nice!

In conclusion I noted that this DVD is very good, perhaps extreme good. Magnum are a good Prog act, not Heavy Prog but sure in Heavy Prog tradition. It is true: Magnum invented the Class Metal. But in my opinion remaining in the wake of Prog tradition. So this DVD please me in extreme manner. And I am sure that this DVD please you too much.

 

Come Away Melinda: The Ballads by URIAH HEEP (Heavy Prog)

18 70's ballads in this 'Come Away Melinda: A Collection Of Classic Uriah Heep Ballads'. What then is not the usual compilation of Uriah Heep. In this case is a thematic compilation. And I love this compilation because is a sort of jewel!

Ballads and Uriah Heep... Well... great! This compilation is great. I should describe every song but... It is not the case. Instead I must note that the ballads are presented in chronological order. For this reason, Come Away Melinda' opens the dances. And for this motive 'Lady In Black' is the second song. But also 'The Park' is a pure Hard Rock ballad. And I love these three ballads, for power but not only. Please me also: 'The Wizard', 'Rainbow Demon', 'Rain', 'If I Had The Time', 'Wonderworld', 'The Easy Road', 'Why Did You Go?', 'Your Turn To Remember', 'Weep In Silence' and 'Come Back To Me'.

The ballads are usually ground for singers. With Heep, however, I have the feeling that they are inspired to know that they were a band. With the life that they were (9 months on tour, 3 to write, publish and record albums, as Mick Box said) it was logical to change so often line-up. And for this I say that in this case, the ballads are the work of the group. With Heep, often, the ballads were the most dramatic moments of the album (which is very evident in 'Salisbury'). Thus a compilation of ballads like this is really a great tribute to the Heep, more than just a promotional product.

Few compilations such as this are essential. Not recommend to everybody. But having 'Come Away Melinda: The Ballads' is not a bad thing.

 

 

Salisbury by URIAH HEEP (Heavy Prog)

If 'Very 'eavy... Very 'umble' can be considered a Heavy Metal album... 'Salisbury' is certainly the most Prog album (if not the only one) that Uriah Heep has produced. In any case 'Salisbury' is the first absolute masterpiece of Uriah Heep. And frankly 'Salisbury' is also one of the first Prog album that I bought and loved!

Ken Hensley finally can shout his organ, David Byron can use your voice as a musical instrument and Mick Box can do the minstrel... And all with a spontaneity... Really spontaneous! Certainly that 'Bird Of Prey' is a pure Power Metal (but in 1971 is correct to speak of Power Metal?) but it sounds more substantial than the songs of 'Very 'eavy... very 'umble'. 'The Park' is a dramatic acoustic ballad for organ and voice... In my opinion Byron and Hensley here create the 'Child In Time' of Uriah Heep! I love Byron's vocal lines in 'The Park', but also the acoustic rhythmic guitar by Mick Box is extreme exciting! More Heavy is 'Time To Live' with another great organ parts and wah wah guitar. 'Time To Live' is the more Heavy Metal song of 'Salisbury' and a another perfect track for David Byron's voice. The acoustic ballad 'Lady In Black' is another dramatic song for atmospheres... And the best song of 'Salisbury' because in this album is the song aged better. Sure 'Lady In Black' is a true hymn of 70's music! (P.s.: I must say again how is great David Byron?). 'High Priestess'... Is a very catchy song, despite the distorted guitars and a Rock Byron really dominate the song. That is one of most successful cavalcade of Heep. Finally 'Salisbury', a composition by Box, Byron and Hensley with bass and woodwind arranged by John Fiddy that present the best organ performed by Hensley. 'Salisbury' is the only Symphonic Prog composition of Heep. If woodwind and brass dominate the composition, it must be said that Hensley and Byron are not less. 'Salisbury', then, is a suite really heavy (even in melodic parts), dramatic but at the same time catchy.

Is 'Salisbury' a perfect album? Of course, 'Salisbury' is a perfect album. Also because it is aged extreme well. Perhaps because spontaneous' Salisbury 'is a magical album. All musicians (and not only them) give the best of themselves. And this feels. But if I have to be sincere, 'Salisbury' is also great because it is aged so well that the songs are so fresh and current that is difficult not to classify 'Salisbury' as a masterpiece.

 

But not of this type :

Very Cavalcadeish...

 

Three Parts To My Soul by DR. Z (Heavy Prog)

I must thank my ex-girlfriend when I discovered Dr. Z! She, in 2000, lent me a copy MC where in the B side had registered Dr. Z. What I immediately loved.

Strange the life: Patrick Campbell-Lyons, after Nirvana, worked as a talent scout for the Vertigo label and when presented Keith Keyes with the tapes of this concept album: 'Three Parts To My Soul (Spiritus ,Manes Et Umbra)' he decided to publish these tapes... But only in 80 copies!

Of course the cncept speaks of the human soul and natur soul in its three aspects. Certainly the concept is really dark, but I find it satanic. Rather it is an esoteric dark concept! In any case, the music is hypnotic, poor, evocative, wild and essential! Harpsichord and voice dominate the melodies so that they become tribal. One point worth noting is that the songs are very melodic and with a very spartan production: are reported together because these aspects are related. In fact, the songs are designed precisely to be proposed in this way. It is clear that Watkins simply copy the rhythmic songs of Bo Didley but very, very slow: the songs are slow, Watson with his bass guitar produces strength and weight for sound because Keyes produces an inconsistent but beautiful sound with harpsichord and piano and sung not so perfect... But perfectly effective. I would say that the proposal of Dr. Z Rock but is not Medieval or Renaissance music but electric!

In my CD version (by Won-Sin) two are the bonus tracks (as in my copy MC). But these two songs are too POP. In every case the two bonus tracks are extremely good.

In conclusion... 'Three Parts To My Soul (Spiritus, Manes Et umbra)' is one of the more esoteric albums of Rock history. And one of the more Dark Prog albums. 'Three Parts To My Soul (Spiritus, Mames Et Umbra)' is also a magical album. And, proper for these facts, 'Three Parts To My Soul (Spiritus, Manes Et Umbra)' is also an album without time!