DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK

Deep Purple's fifth album and their most potent statement. The vocalist (Ian Gillan) and bassist (Roger Glover) are new to the band, replacing Rod Evans and Nicky Simper. Accordingly, Purple decides to adjust their musical style. Ritchie Blackmore and organist Jon Lord concentrate more on power chords, both of them contributing evenly to the new sound. In Rock is more of a hybrid, ingeniously combining power-rock and progressive.

In Rock is still progressive enough, though, in that it has a central theme: Stay away from hard drugs. The tactics they use, to get this point across, are fear and terror. (Recall that Purple's earlier, more experimental recordings relied on dramatic flourishes by Lord). This don't-wind-up-a-junkie theme is hammered home by one song; their magnum opus.

"Child in Time" has a stunning instrumental run in its middle; like Purple's previous works this furiously builds up to climax. You may not want to play this for someone who is terribly paranoid, though. This one is serious. And once you think the fright is over, the song again builds to another (this one final) climax, laced with screams of terror by Gillan. Their magnum opus.

The album's other prog remnants are (1.) a low-key, jazzy guitar 'n' organ duel in the middle of "Speed King" and, (2.) the fact that Gillan's vocals on "Flight of the Rat" sound so much like Greg Lake. When I first heard the song on FM radio, I thought it was.

Powerful and dramatic. A great combination. Yet, In Rock is more a bold step toward heavy rock than it is a drift into the pastures of Yes and Genesis. This one Purple album is actually in category all its own. It is a must have for all rock music fans.