SALISBURY

Thirty years ago I bought this album, this evening I played it since many years and it's incredible how this album still excites me so much ! Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that music that you listen to at the age between 13 and 16 gets a special meaning for you because it is related with the many emotional moments you are experienced to as an adolescent. Anyway, to me Salisbury sounds a a very good album with a pleasant variety and tasteful arrangements. On one hand it delivers the Uriah Heep trademark: progressive hardrock in Bird Of Prey (strong and dynamic opener), Time To Live (great floods of Hammond organ) and High Priestess (straight R&R with nice vocal harmonies and strings). These tracks feature powerful interplay between Box and Hensley along the distinctive, a bit high-pitched and theatrical vocals by David Byron. On the other hand Uriah Heep also makes mellow songs like The Park (twanging acoustic guitar, soft organ runs and warm vocals)and Lady In Black (moving ballad with a catchy beat, pleasant acoustic rhythm guitar and wonderful vocals). Here Uriah Heep let us hear their that they don't need decibels to impress! And then the absolute highlight, the final composition Salisbury, pure progressive rock that delivers an exciting dynamic sound with excellent interplay between the classical instruments and Hensley his omnipresent Hammond organ and biting wah-wah drenched soli by Mick Box. With any doubt the titletrack is a strong musical experiment that prooved Uriah Heep their huge potential.