OLD LOVES DIE HARD

Triumvirat's fourth studio album is apparently the start of a long fall. While the band has enjoyed some mixed success up to the release of this album, including the incredibly well received Illusions On A Double Dimple here we find an album with mixed reactions to it. While this may come from many factors (including an extreme stripping down of line-up) it's clear that while this album is wholesomely enjoyable, it may be the last of that kind from this band. What we have here is an album reflecting of the times and the kind of prog that people wanted to hear. With prog Leviathan Emerson, Lake and Palmer still slumbering after their landmark album, Brain Salad Surgery, there had to be something to fill the gap of hammonds and moogs being played in an overly pomp and grandiose manner. Enter Old Loves Die Hard, an album whose songs could easily be pulled from the outtake sessions of the previously mentioned ELP masterwork.

The album contains just about everything that ELP was well known for. While the vocals on this album are certainly a lot more grating than that of Greg Lake's, the organ and keyboard work is certainly reminiscent to that of Keith Emerson's. Fast solos and futuristic sound effects mix in at times over top of grand arrangements and sometimes vocals. There's long tunes and suites to be heard as well as a nice assortment of bombastic instrumentals. The lyrics are a lot more down to Earth than that of ELP's, and they're missing the obligatory hoe-down song and the obligatory rework of a classical arrangement, but the keyboards are more than enough to make you feel like you're listening to another ELP album.

Although with this line-up of musicians they really could have stuck to instrumental music. There's only a handful of tracks that actually contain vocals on this album, but they really stick out, and not always in a great way. I Believe opens the album in a decidedly non-ELP fashion in that it's a very subtle track which does become annoying when the schoolchildren start singing in chorus behind a voice which doesn't really help to support it. The title track which also closes the album is a little bit more active, but ultimately forgettable in context of the album. A Cold Old Worried Lady is likely the best track to contain vocals on the album with its rather haunting lyrics and slow and subtle instrumentation. The vocals here actually work and come off as rather emotive.

Where the band excels, though, is with the instrumentals and the epic tracks. The History Of Mystery (part I and II) is likely the definitive standout of the album, even if it feels like it was cut strait out of Karn Evil 9, but this is where the musicianship of the band is at it's top and, ELP sounding or not, the melodies and mood of this song really work. Panic On 5th Avenue is the lengthiest single track on the album and leave a good impression as a heavy and impressive instrumental, as does A Day In The Life

This album really is good for people who like the style of ELP and don't mind if another band sounds a lot like them. Those who don't care for ELP or who think that they can't be impersonated should stay far, far away from this band, though. In the end it may not be the most original material on Earth, but it certainly has some great and memorable moments that makes it worth a good deal of spins in the end. 3 cold, old worried ladies 5 for a good album.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this TRIUMVIRAT review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Queen By-Tor
• Report this review (#187195)
• Buy TRIUMVIRAT music online with PA partners
• Show all TRIUMVIRAT MP3/Stream
• Go to TRIUMVIRAT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Old Loves Die Hard page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for TRIUMVIRAT related discussions