ELEGANT STEALTH

WOW, we've waited 9 years, since BONA FIDE, to hear an album as good as this from these guys, and i can assure you......its been well worth the wait. If your looking for ARGUS, then you won't find it here. But there is a chance of it finding their best since ( at least top 3 )!!! [p]

The band have been going for over 40 years now, and understandingly we would assume that they may not be going for much longer. But from the evidence on show here, that certainly does'nt seem to be the case. [p]

Andy Powell, who has been with the band since its inception has never sounded so good ( vocally ). As you would expect his axe work is nothing short of brilliance, he really batters them solo's here!!! [p]

There is also a return to this album of chief writing partner and twin axe man, Muddy Manninen, who has been with the band since 2004. Drummer extraordinare, Joe Crabtree, who joined in 2007 and Long time bassist Bob Skeat. There is also room for a few special guests on this album, Don Airey (Deep Purple / Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath) and Pat McManus (Mamas Boys / Celtus / Pat McManus Band) who add Keyboards and Fiddle to the sound. [p]

Top songs on this album come in the form of Reason to Believe, which was put out as a single and is a great catchy number. Warm Tears starts with a nice bit of blues before it hits the harmonies and fantastic TWIN GUITAR sound. Probably up there with some of the best songs this band has ever recorded. Can't Go It Alone, which is opened with the fiddle and is a top Folk/Prog number. Searching For Satalites is the slow number here, reminding me a little of FLEETWOOD MAC and a little of PINK FLOYD. Andy shows off his vocal talents amazingly in this wonderful song. Heavy Weather switches from Blues to Prog to 80s hair rock and back again, a very enjoyable prog song. The final one is Big Issues, all i need to say is listen to the solo!!!! [p]

The other songs are enjoyable, but as with most albums, certain songs seem to stand out more. I would'nt say that there is a poor song on ELEGANT STEALTH, but as i say some stand out more than others. [p]

I have given the album 4 out of 5 because even though there is a couple of proggy numbers on the album, i would'nt call it a Prog album as such. This band has always fluctuated its musical style, from the heavy metal of Raw To The Bone, to the Prog album Argus and as far as a dance album called Trance Visionary. What i love about this band, and on this album imparticular, is there abillity to play different sounds and not make themselves sound repetitive. Ergo, thats why you will find it here. [p]

That was my first review and hope i did'nt bore you too much, thank you for taking the time to read this. Go buy the album and i can assure you, you won't be disappointed!!

This really is a superb album from the masters of classic rock. Not only is the musicianship of the very highest standard but the songs are all strong and leave you with a very contented smile on your face! This really does rate up there along with Wishbone's very best. Those twin guitars soar and battle and their trademark subtle / heavy light and shade riffs and melody make you want to reach for the nearest tennis racket, you'll need a partner to dual with for Big Issues. Other highlights included Man With No Name, Mud-Slick (with Deep Purples Don Airey) Can't Go It Alone (with Pat McManus) & Invisible Thread. Where this latest album really scores is the live feel the production has achieved which has too often been missed on past albums. If you've ever liked Wishbone Ash but at times may have doubted them, then as in the title of the opening song there really genuinely is REASON TO BELIEVE.........enjoy!

Just a "little bit" pregnant?

This album is a hybrid between Pop-Rock and slight remnants of early Ash. An album that goes nowhere really, neither here, nor there. Not strong enough to gain much recognition on Pop charts, yet the Prog elements (if any) are in short supply.

There is nothing really wrong here, but equally, nothing memorable either. In places the compositions evoke elements of weaker Pop attempts by Blackmore's DP, or Rainbow, at other times remind of Fleetwood Mac with one hand tied behind their backs. An obvious attempt at commercial appeal that would suit your local Inn for inoffensive background sound much more than serious music to pay attention to.

The vocals (or more like the voice) contain slight elements of early Ash, but that endearingly amateurish, folksy charm of 40 years ago don't really fit the compositions here. Yes, there are twin guitar fills to break the boredom of otherwise uneventful tracks, but not enough to lift the works above of a mediocre offering as a whole.

This album is devoid of innovation, lacking grunt and only Prog by association with early Ash. The reality is that after three repeated spins I am left with precious little nothing to remember of and it remains a non-event. In Pop-Rock terms, I'd rate it as a 3, but a Prog album it isn't. (IMO, the Ash should have permanently retired at least 25 years ago.)

(Since I wrote my initial opinion, I've listened to the album again and I arrived at a serious dislike of it. Definitely no room for it in my collection.)

The reputation indicates an album at the same caliber as Bona Fide. Do I agree? No.

Let's see why, track-by-track:

Reason To Believe: In the spirit of their students Iron Maiden, this hard 'n' heavy song is a very quality one, YET another song that proves the incredible diversity they bare as artists!

Warm Tears: Blues rock to the core, both lyrically and musically. The slower guitar parts are clearly a reference to Jimi Hendrix. The whole songs is blasting, bravo guys!

Elegant Stealth: Very nice song, has an essence of AOR, clearly of pop origin, but with solid hard 'n' heavy parts. Radio friendly, very nice chorus vocals, sounds a bit like the Scorpions melodies.

Can't Go It Alone: And you think you've listened everything by WA, and here they are with a Medieval intro in a Kansas-like song. No, I'm not on drugs, that's what they did here! Very melodic song, very interesting, really great!

Give It Up: Something form Gary Moore in this elegant song, which is fine but not so special as the previous.

Searching For Satellites: Love ballad, ideal for dancing with your partner. The lyrics are not so trite as one would expect from a song like this, as they sing about a divine message about love. The music is not something unique though, so I'll pass.

Heavy Weather: It begins as a rather indifferent mid-tempo song, but it changes to a rocker after the 4th minute, being basically a 2-in-1 song. Interesting for it's diversity, but not so significant overall.

Mud-Slick: An OK instrumental by Muddy Manninen, enjoyable but not special.

Big Issues: Too much trouble for a little matter. It seems like they tried to create a new F.U.B.B., but in my opinion they failed. Yeah, the solos and the jamming are all good and well, but we already know damn well they can play as good as anyone. So if you don't create a unique composition, what do you offer with a song like this?

Migrant Worker: Nice blues rocker, with obviously social lyrics (the title speaks for it's self). Nothing we haven't heard before a billion times, though.

Invisible Thread / Reason To Believe (remix): Finally, an interesting song again in this album! Very good mid-tempo blues rocker, with clever, catchy riffs and nice vocals. / A dance remix of the first song, kinda cool to be honest!

RATING: I can't see why people consider this one as great as Bona Fide. There is nothing as great here, this album is inferior in every aspect. However, it's not a bad album at all; In fact, it's better than most WA albums. I'll rank it above New England and below Illuminations. 3 stars.