RAGING SILENCE

The last new line up

The "Raging silence" represents the real starting point of the resurgence of Uriah Heep as a credible force. This album saw the formation of the band's most stable line up ever, and one which continues to this day. There was of course, one last upheaval to go through before this album was recorded, with Bernie Shaw (vocals, ex-Grand Prix, Praying Mantis, Stratus) and Phil Lanzon (keyboards, ex-Grand Prix, Sad Café and Sweet!) joining the band. Trevor Boulder had returned to the fold for the previous album, "Equator". Prior to recording "The roaring silence", this line up played in Russia, to massive audiences who had not previously witnessed live performances by a western rock band. The line up gelled immediately, and while this is by no means their best album, it is a noticeable improvement on its recent predecessors.

The opening track is an obvious, but sadly unsuccessful attempt to secure a hit single by simply covering a song which had already been a hit for someone else. Argent's "Hold your head up" was a great song, but despite the presence of one of Mick Box's great wah wah solos, Uriah Heep's interpretation was too faithful to the original and thus little more than a tribute. It was however the first track on a Heep studio album to include Bernie Shaw on vocals who, to the delight of many fans, sang much more in the way of David Byron than those who had come and gone since Byron had left the band. (While anyone familiar with the albums of Uriah Heep will be able to differentiate between Byron and Shaw's voices, Shaw's pitch and delivery are similar, allowing him to sing Byron era songs as they should be sung.)

Another cover version on the album is "When the war is over", which had previously been a hit in Australia for Cold Chisel and The Little River Band. It is the only ballad as such, and stands out on the album as one of the best tracks. Phil Lanzon immediately shows himself to be a great addition by co-writing many of the tracks, and "orchestrating" this one.

There are many signs throughout the album of the renewed confidence of the band. "Cry Freedom" has "Sweet freedom" references, while "Rough Justice" has a slow guitar solo in the middle of a rock track, along the lines of Deep Purple's "Strange kinda woman".

The harmonies are back to full strength, and although there are more than the usual quota of cover versions (three in all), the songwriting credits are well spread throughout the band. A welcome return to form of sorts, which provided the foundations for the band to once again become a coherent, credible unit.

I had been rather surprised with their last live album. This is the same line-up and my expectations were rather high. Maybe too high. I should have been warned though : three new songs were available on the "Live In Moscow" album and none were outstanding numbers.

This is also the case with these studio tracks. Average (hard) rock songs form start to finish. No real highlight I must say. I find the opener very weak. Next comes the AOR "Blood Red Roses" : you know my aversion to this genre, so I cannot really be enthusiast about it. ihe intro of "Voice On My TV" sounds a bit like the Buggles, then turns AOR as well.

One has to wait "Cry Freedom" to get an interesting song. It is my fave on the album so far and we are already in the middle of this effort. The other tracks were so monotonous that one gets the impression that he listens to the same piece of music. Another good number with "Bad Bad Man" : a great hard-rock song, indeed. Strong vocals and good guitar riff. I must say that this album is very much guitar-oriented (keys are hardly noticeable so far).

A good rock ballad "When the War Is Over" is welcome to give us a break in this rather hard to heavy album (but it is not a Heep song). If you have read some my Heep reviews (or Purple ones), you know that I like this genre pretty much (hard-rock, I men). But this album features too many songs without inspiration. No great keys nor even guitar soli moments. The closing number "Rough Justice" is just above par.

The remastered versions will include some live tracks from their "Live In Moscow". I wonder why a track like "Gypsy" (from 1970) has been added as a bonus track here. Maybe to raise the interest of old fans that hadn't bought the Moscow record ? Some alternate or remixes version of existing numbers will be featured as well. I'm afraid these won't improve the whole level.

This album sounds like hundreds of the genre. The Heep has done far much better stuff (even during the eighties). This one is too repetitive. Mostly just average hard-rock songs. I am rather disappointed with this album. It is a confirmation that their new material has not yet reached a decent level to compete with past numbers (I am not even talking about their legendary tracks). One keeps on feeling that Hensley's departure has cut most of the Heep's inspiration. Two stars.

The best from the '80's

Raging silence from 1989 - again lots of changings both in sound and musicians. The new singer Bernie Shaw ex Paraying Mantis and Grand Prix is a very good replacement of Golby, with a good voice more towards hard and heavy but fits like a glove in Heep's music. Phil Lanzon from Sad Cafe fame come to UH in late 1986 and remains 'till today constant member like Shaw. Box, Kerslake and Bolder remains the gear of Heep's music and they were constant members so unreplaceble. The music from Raging silence is rather heavy than prog, with some leanings towards hard rock but ok in the end, nice keyboard interplays and good guitar riffs and harmonies, some of the good pieces are: Hold Your Head Up (this is a Argent cover) but sounds very good in Heep's sound, Cry Freedom and my fav piece from here Lifeline. All in all a good album, among the best UH albums with a lot of energy and good ideas that tops all the rest of the Heep's albums from the '80's. 3 stars for Raging silence

The end of the 80s, finally! It is good news if we look back to the previous releases from the band. The good news here are: Uriah Heep almost breaks off with new wave elements in their music and the line- up becomes constant for first time in their history. The strange about the new vocalist - Bernie Show - his voice don't looks like enough to any previous vocalist at the band. It's good for him, because he don't neet to play any role, but should be himself. Raging Silence produce the first classic-sounding Uriah Heep's song for the 80s - Cry Freedom. Really magnificent song with russian language whispers at the beginning; irregular idea, shaped freshly! The better songs on the album are Hold Your Head Up, Blood Red Roses, Cry Freedom (the best one), More Fool You and Lifeline! 2.5 stars, but I give 3, instead of 2, because of the lower ranking. If overall ranking was above 2.5, I would give 2. That's my philosophy!

This is the first studio album of the Shaw/Lanzon era. The overall sound, songwriting and production are somewhat of an improvement over the previous "Equator" but without true highlights. In fact, none of the 10 songs is on a par with "Poor Little Rich Girl" and "The Night of the Wolf".

Notwithstanding, there are many enjoyable tracks, (still) with the recognizable heep sound. Mick Box takes on a more prominent role (electric guitar). Keyboards are generally more restrained than in the previous record: Phil Lanzon still plays bland snyth but without letting the 80s tones stand above the arrangements. Choruses are strengthened and never annoying, the rhythm session is dynamic.

On a high note: "Voice on My TV", the cover "Hold Your Head Up" (Argent) that sounds very good in the Heep' style and the soft rock ballad "When the War Is Over", with orchestration directed by Phil Lanzon (the second cover). Slightly superior is "Lifeline", the better song of the album.

Could have been a great album.