HEAVY ROCK SPECTACULAR [AKA: SCHIZO-POLTERGEIST]

Cult British Prog band from the early-70's.There seems to be a confusion about its members, sure thing is their leader was keyboardist Tony Bronsdon and guitarist/bassist Tony Lowe was among the original members.Bram Stoker were found in 1969 and were a live beast of the era, being a regular visitor of legendary live scenes as The Roundhouse, The Marquee, The Greyhound-Croydon and The Speakeasy, they even were supported by Queen once, while they also played quite often in small pubs.By the time of the ''Heavy Rock Spectacular'' album in 1972 Bronsdon was apparently surrounded by a different line-up, including John Bavin on bass, Pete Ballam on guitar and Rob Haines on drums.The album was released originally on the London-based 70's label Windmill.

Heavy Rock it is at some degree, really spectacular it is not, because the music by Bram Stoker was already performed by acts such as ATOMIC ROOSTER, QUATERMASS and E.L.P. with nods also to the style of DEEP PURPLE and THE NICE.But the album is also very far from being uninteresting.Powerful, organ-based Heavy/Psych with some excellent organic jams and lots of energy to capture the listener's attention.The music is typical of the British Psych/Proto-Prog style with impressive influences from Classical sources and endless psychedelic textures in long, non-refined instrumental masturbations.Vocals are also very good, well-fit to the musical content and the rhythm section is extremely solid.Guitar contribution comes at a few moments, but these are also the ones with the more dramatic and progressive sound.''Extensive corrosion'' is possibly the most progressive of all pieces with its organ changing paces and the music being split in different variations, while the outro of ''Poltergeist'' belongs definitely among the most haunting tracks of British organ-led Psychedelic Music.

Standard example of the early-70's British Psych/Prog scene.Loads of dense Hammond organ and raw compositions full of extended, instrumental abnormalities.The album has been re-issued several times by a number of labels and it's pretty easy to be found.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.