The British rock legends are back, ladies and gentlemen!
Not many rock acts can brag about a career that lasted for more than five magnificent decades or about releasing 20 albums! Your eyes aren’t betraying you, you read correctly! 20 albums is an accomplishment worthy of all the respect and appreciation you hold in your little die-hard rock fan heart. After all, we are talking about Deep Purple – one of the most important rockstars of all time who not only revolutionized the face of the industry with their heavy sound and never-seen-before live performances but influenced and keep on influencing every rock soul out there that dreams about the big stage.
One would easily assume that the creative strength of a band that’s been going for more than 50 years is long gone. This may be accurate for any other rock act out there, except Deep Purple. Their last release, titled “What Now?” (2013) was a strong, critically-acclaimed comeback which many attribute to famous producer Bob Ezrin’s magical touch. Four years later, the same team (Ian Paice – drums; Ian Gillan – lead vocals; Roger Glover – bass; Steve Morse – guitar, vocals; Don Airey – keyboards and Bob Ezrin – producer) is back with “InFinite” – a solid confirmation that Deep Purple still have what it takes to be relevant, 50+ years later!
At the end of 2016, Deep Purple released “Infinite’s” first single – the progressive opening track, “Time for Bedlam”. The song’s instant success on YouTube and social media definitely lifted my spirits – there was finally something to look forward to in the upcoming year. That spectacular guitar vs. organ race, colored by Ian Gillan’s as elegant and alluring as ever voice, gave me nothing but hope that “InFinite” will be one of the best sonic experiences of 2017. The groovy “Hip Boots” is nothing but a back-to-the-roots delight on which Steve Morse’s stirring guitar shines as bright as the sun. “All I Want Is You” turned into an instant favorite and that’s not just because I’m a softie. Those stimulating keyboards and of course, the lyrics conquered me at first listen. The album picks up the pace with the bluesy “One Night in Vegas” and the classic Deep Purple-sounding “Get Me Outta Here”. “Johnny’s Band” and “On Top of the World” are just a couple of the highlights on “InFinite”, completing your vintage, yet so modern Purple adventure. The album wraps things up with an excellent homage to The Doors and their timeless classic, “Roadhouse Blues”.
Each and every tune on “InFinite” is a carefully chosen piece of a puzzle, completing one of the greatest musical pictures of 2017 so far! What a time to be alive! I wasn’t there to witness the release of Deep Purple’s timeless classics, such as the groundbreaking “Machine Head” for example; however I am here now, feeling wonderful and immensely grateful for this album! “InFinite” sounds like it was written in the 70s but produced and engineered in modern times! I cannot wait to be part of their tour this year and listen to some of the new songs performed live!
Cheers to Deep Purple!
Time for Bedlam
All I Got is You
References:
“Infinite” Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_(Deep_Purple_album) P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment. Cheers~
Released: February 10, 2017 Genre: Hard Rock Label: EARMUSIC Duration: 51:13 Producer(s): Luke Morley
Tracklist:
No One Gets Out Alive – 4:21
Rip It Up – 4:43
She Likes The Cocaine – 4:34
Right From The Start – 5:23
Shakedown – 4:08
Heartbreak Hurricane – 4:46
In Another Life – 4:57
The Chosen One – 5:09
The Enemy Inside – 3:10
Tumbling Down – 5:25
There’s Always A Loser – 4:38
OVERVIEW
Thunder are back with a brand new studio album, titled “Rip It Up”. The follow-up to their highly successful, Top 10 2015 release, “Wonder days” has finally arrived and is loaded with a serious collection of mindblowing rock tunes, destined to become future classics. The title says it all – “Rip It Up” tears down all musical and creative barriers. That “now or never” attitude of Thunder is winning them the big points! The album showcases their new-found creative strength and obvious self-rediscovery, all packed together with their thunderous, indestructible spirit that made them a household name back in old-school days. Guitarist Luke Morley and vocalist Danny Bowes formed Thunder in 1989 and the rest is…well, what a history! 27 years after a groundbreaking debut album, “Backstreet Symphony”, fuelled with hard rock staples like “Dirty Love” and “Love Walked In”, Thunder are still going as strong as ever and their eleventh studio album, “Rip It Up” is simply another important stop on their long way to go.
“After the positive reaction to ‘Wonder Days’, we were very happy, and it justified the approach we took in the writing and recording. We decided to push it further on all fronts this time, to see what happened, and I think it shows in the writing and the individual performances. We couldn’t have made this album 10 or even 5 years ago, we weren’t good enough! We’re really looking forward to playing the new tunes live alongside the more established ones.”
“No One Gets Out Alive” is a promising opening track that welcomes you to one truly fascinating world where hard rock is a religion and Thunder are one of the Gods. It’s a fearless composition that impresses with its striking lyrics that tell us that we might not live forever, but that’s totally fine! Danny Bowes is sending a strong message – don’t waste your time away and enjoy the ride! The title track is as fierce as its name. “Rip It Up” became an instant favorite of mine with its atmospheric bluesy/old-school party vibes that just make you forget about everything. “She Likes the Cocaine” was inspired by a woman who guitarist Luke Morley used to know back in his days of youth. The lady in question used to be the heart and soul of the party and so many years later, she still is (at least that’s what Luke says). The song takes on a lighter perspective of drugs, looking at things through the fun way of it. Lynne Jackaman is making a memorable appearance on the track with her outstanding backing vocals. “Right from the Start” slows things down to remind us why ballads are so important for any release. Thunder have always been famous for their slower-paced tunes and there’s a reason why. Their trademark ballad sound is immensely captivating. “Shakedown”, “In Another Life” and “The Enemy Inside” are just a few of the heavier, upbeat rockers that bring that much-need intensity caused by the satisfying clash between deafening guitars and bold vocals. “Rip It Up” wraps things up with another soft rocker, titled “Everyone’s A Loser”. Nothing much to say about this pleasing end to a splendid album, except that indeed everyone who doesn’t listen to this album is a loser.
“Rip It Up” is Thunder’s gutsy confession, incorporating elements of their well-established formula for success into a solid modern-day hard rock sound. I didn’t expect the album to contain any unprecedented, far-out tracks so I wasn’t really disappointed when I got this well-known enjoyable piece of good old rock&roll music. Bottom line is, Danny Bowes still has the pipes and Luke Morley can still write extraordinary songs. So get ready for an album that will easily compete for the greatest rock release of 2017, I’m sure of it.
Released: November 18, 2016 Genre: Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal Producer(s): Greg Fidelman, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich Label: Blackened Recordings Length: 77:26
OVERVIEW
Metallica put an end to the long 8 years of waiting with their smashing new heavy metal storm, titled “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”. The mighty metal Gods survived through the long gap, after which the majority of rock acts would’ve been totally obliterated by the constantly changing music scene, and rose from the ashes with a comeback album worthy of being called a moment of unification of all metalheads around the world. The expectations were high – Metallica had to preserve their relevance with something that goes beyond any ordinary record; they had to dig deeper. The results are finally here and believe me, they are more than satisfying.
“Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is an epic double monster album, spitting 12 fiery tracks which run for almost 80 minutes! Let’s give a round of applause (or a scream of excitement) to singer-guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich who co-wrote almost the entire set of throat-grabbing, killer shocks on the record. With such explosive musicianship and furious songwriting dedication, Metallica can absolutely afford to go for an average song length of six-to-seven minutes. They are making their own rules without a single care in the world.
Disc one is more striking, up to the point, offering one heavy rocker after another. The finest moments of “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” could be found among those first six tracks – from the merciless riffs of the opening track “Hardwired”, to the rigorous pulse of “Now That We are Dead”, every track carries that trademark Metallica kick-ass sound formula, mixed with a couple of surprisingly good new tricks. “Halo on Fire” wraps things up in a similar dark, intensity-fueled manner, leaving us with high hopes for what’s coming on the next CD. Disc two is a less damaging, somewhat unfocused mixture of lengthy rockers. The momentum is slowly declining as we progress from one song to another but that’s not necessarily such a bad thing for the listeners who need to take a breath. “Murder One” is a surprisingly splendid tribute to Lemmy Kilmister, that definitely deserves a listen (or two).
“Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is a strong comeback album, despite its length and unnecessary fillers (especially on Disc Two). One thing that truly makes a quite obvious stand is James Hetfield’s explicit, much improved vocal delivery, which is the final touch to the electrifying concept of the album. Metallica build up quite the excitement among fans so it’s natural to completely lose your mind over this album. “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”, however, is far from being their best effort. It’s somewhat familiar but still innovative, proving that Metallica are still standing on the heavy metal pedestal! For that it deserves to be praised!
Tracklist:
Disc One:
“Hardwired” “Atlas, Rise!” “Now That We’re Dead” “Moth Into Flame” “Dream No More” “Halo on Fire”
Disc Two:
“Confusion” “ManUNkind” “Here Comes Revenge” “Am I Savage” “Murder One” “Spit Out the Bone”
Hardwired
Moth Into Flame
Atlas, Rise!
Murder One
Lords of Summer (from the Deluxe Edition of “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct”)
Spit Out the Bone
Dream No More
References:
“Hardwired… to Self-Destruct” Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwired…_to_Self-Destruct P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~ The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Released: August 29, 1989 Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/AOR Duration: 55:16 Label: A&M Producer(s): Terry Thomas
OVERVIEW
Giant’s “Last of the Runaways” deserved so much more than it actually got. Unfortunately, the time wasn’t right for it – by 1989, the heydays of album-oriented rock were long gone. Despite its high production value, melodic quality and outstanding vocals and riffs by Dann Huff, “Last of the Runaways” somehow got lost in the transition period from the ‘80s to the ‘90s. Nevertheless, there will always be rock fans like me and you, who can truly appreciate a piece of art when they see it, regardless of any other factors. The debut album of Giant has a lot to offer – from solid rockers, fueled with mind-blowing riffs, to emotional power-ballads, the whole album is a pure melodic paradise.
“Last of the Runaways” makes a clear statement right from the first tune – “I’m a Believer” is a solid rocker with one of the most chilling, hair-raising guitar intros. What follows next is a beautiful, well-balanced selection of arena rock tunes, perfectly demonstrating the artistic skills and qualities of Giant. “Innocent Days”, “Can’t Get Close Enough” and “No Way Out” are just a few of the dangerously obsessive rock tornadoes that could be heard on this album. I’m saving the best for last – “Last of the Runaways” gives us three of the greatest power ballads ever written – “Love Welcome Home”, “It Takes Two” and of course their most commercially successful song, “I’ll See You in My Dreams”. How Dann and the rest of the guys wrote such powerful and emotionally-charged pieces of art is beyond my understanding, but believe me when I say this – If you are searching for a heart-stirring musical experience, look no further than those three tunes, especially “I’ll See You In My Dreams”. (I mean just listen to those lyrics “…Time, time will never be a friend of mine again, It tries to make your memory fade, but I won’t let it end…”)
“Last of the Runaways” wrapped up the ‘80s in an outstanding way, with excellent music craftsmanship and gorgeous selection of rockers. I can’t recommend it enough! Giant’s next step – the sophomore album “Time to Burn” yet again proved that they weren’t your ordinary hard rock/hair metal band. Listen to the songs and I hope you will understand what I’m saying…
Tracklist:
I’M A BELIEVER INNOCENT DAYS I CAN’T GET CLOSE ENOUGH I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS NO WAY OUT SHAKE ME UP IT TAKES TWO STRANGER TO ME HOLD BACK THE NIGHT LOVE WELCOME HOME THE BIG PITCH
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment. Cheers~
Released: November 4, 2016 Genre: Hard Rock Producer(s): Glenn Hughes & Soren Andersen Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l Length: 56:16
OVERVIEW
2016 brought to the table a couple of pretty intriguing records by our favorite classic rockers. Heart’s “Beautiful Broken”, Kansas’ “The Prelude Implicit”, Steven Tyler’s “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”, David Bowie’s “Blackstar” (RIP), Paul Simon’s “Stranger to Stranger” and Eric Clapton’s “I Still Do” are among the year’s finest works, clearly stating that devotion to music and epic talent are ageless. That’s not all, though! We will wrap 2016 up with a few more, highly anticipated hard rockers, including rock legend Glenn Hughes’ grandiose comeback album, titled “Resonate”. It has been almost a decade since his last studio effort, “First Underground Nuclear Kitchen(2008)”, but his powerful hard rock testimony, “Resonate”, turned out to be a record worth waiting for.
“It’s my first solo album in 8 years. Everybody needs to know that this is absolutely a return to rock music as a solo artist for me. My work is very varied. Groovy, funky, soulful, although the genre has always been rock. But this album is probably THE heaviest record I’ve done in at least 25 years. It’s dense. It’s dark. There’s some aggression on this record. Every bloody track is begging to be played live.”
On his official website, Glenn stated that “Resonate” is “the first kind of a complete Glenn album… it is a ROCK album for ROCK fans & it’s… HEAVY.” His words can’t even begin to describe the electrifying, breath-taking, dangerous and even quite aggressive aura of the record. “Resonate” is a rock euphoria that only solidifies Glenn’s reputation as a one-of-a-kind rock legend who still knows how to craft jaw-dropping music.
Eleven (plus one bonus) tracks provide you with the ultimate galvanizing rock experience. Glenn makes a clear solid statement right from the very first song. “Heavy” is no joke; it’s the song with the strongest force of attraction among all the tracks. Glenn’s trademark vocals, furious guitars and dynamic sound effects are all stirred up to an ultimate hard rock extravaganza. “My Town” and “Let It Shine” are the two other seductive rockers that are immediately making a statement with their stimulating rhythms and first-class production qualities. “God of Money” quickly throws you back into the deep hard rock river with its explosive guitar-driven sound, haunting bass and conceptual lyrics. Unexpectedly, after a series of spellbinding tornadoes, we are faced with a much gentler song, titled “When I Fall”. Well-written both lyrically and melodically, the tune somehow manages to calm things down for a second and remind you that Glenn can conquer pretty much any style. “Resonate” ends up with the mid-tempo rocker “Long Time Gone” which cannot really compete with the value and impact of the rest of the songs from the album.
“Resonate” is an album for people who want to get drunk on hard rock in its purest, most aggressive and mighty form. Glenn delivered what he promised and though it came as a huge surprise, right at the very end of 2016, the album’s loud and vigorous voice quickly reached us. Another vintage rocker showing the youngsters how to make great rock music! Cheers to Glenn!
Tracklist:
HEAVY MY TOWN FlOW LET IT SHINE STEADY GOD OF MONEY HOW LONG WHEN I FALL LANDMINES STUMBLE & GO LONG TIME GONE NOTHING’S THE SAME (BONUS TRACK)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~ The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Released: October 5, 1993 Genre: Hard Rock/Glam Rock Duration: 56:04 Label: Mercury Producer(s): Def Leppard
Singles: “Two Steps Behind”, “Desert Song”, “Miss You In A Heartbeat”, “Action”, ““Two Steps Behind (re-issue)”
Certified: Platinum (RIAA)
OVERVIEW
Def Leppard released four albums during the 90s but this time I will specifically focus on “Retro Active”, despite “Adrenalize” being their most commercially and critically successful 90s record. I wanted to talk a little bit more about “Retro Active” because of its unique format that combines groomed up versions of unreleased/B-sides tracks and a couple of covers from previous albums. The album carries with it Def Leppard’s genuine and classic ‘80s sound, making it their most deserving work that came out in the ‘90s. Don’t get me wrong, “Adrenalize” and “Euphoria”, for instance are groundbreaking albums, but they cannot match the variety and character of “Retro Active”. Fuelled up with first-class production quality and of course, the dynamic and charismatic spirit of Def Leppard, the record is the ultimate cause for celebration, especially for die-hard fans of the band, like me. On top of it all, the band gives us one more chance to honor the late Steve Clark (RIP) by revisiting his legacy and experiencing his enormous talents and contributions all over again. We get to hear the first recordings with the new guitarist Vivian Campbell, as well.
In terms of songs, “Retro Active” is an absolute rock festival from start to finish. We get to enjoy a couple of gorgeous ballads -“Miss You in a Heartbeat” and “Two Steps behind You”, both presented in acoustic and electric versions. Listening to those excellent pieces of art makes me such a proud fan of Def Leppard. “Miss You in a Heartbeat”, especially, is one in a lifetime kind of song – memorable and easy to sing with chorus, heartbreaking lyrics and an unmatchable classy aura. I have always been entranced by Joe’s vocals on this track. “She’s too Tough”, originally released on the “Heaven Is” single (1993) is such a delightful surprise and definitely my favorite moment of “Retro Active”. Energizing and empowering, the track is definitely something to anticipate as you go from start to finish. Playful, even sexy lyrics that generate an immediate visual in your mind, which is one of the reasons why I love Def Leppard so much – they tell a story with their music and make things so much more interesting. Kicking things off gently and then quickly teleporting us to a pure solid hard rock realm, “I Wanna Be Your Hero” is another groundbreaking point. On “Retro Active”, you get to find tons of other deserving rockers, such as the covers “Action” (Sweet) and “Only After Dark” (Mick Ronson). The mind-blowing first two opening tracks “Desert Song” and “Fractured Love”, both from Hysteria sessions, are bringing us back to Def Leppard’s early raw roots. The epic “Ride into the Sun” is another personal favorite of mine, probably due to the long history it carries with it – the track was actually featured on Def Leppard’s first ever self-produced EP, released back in 1979 before it was rerecorded in 1987 as a B-side to the “Hysteria” single. “Retro Active” wraps things up with a hidden track – a tender piano version of “Miss You in a Heartbeat”. Leaving us absolutely speechless, you can’t but go on the “Retro Active” journey once again, after the final song is over; the feeling is just that strong!
This album is for everyone, though I do believe that die-hard fans of Def Leppard would enjoy it much more than everyone else. The collection of songs offers a little something for all the rock souls out there – from attractive hard rockers to sentimental ballads, “Retro Active” provides you with the ultimate Def Leppard experience. The album is important also because it’s a final farewell to Steve Clark, the irreplaceable force, without which the band wouldn’t have reached such heights. Grab a copy and enjoy the superb production and quality of this record. Definitely in my top 5 Def Leppard albums! That should tell you something!
Tracklist:
“Desert Song” (Steve Clark, Joe Elliott, Rick Savage) Outtake from the Hysteria album sessions (1984–87)
“Fractured Love” (Clark, Elliott, Savage) – 5:08 Outtake from the Hysteria album sessions
“Action” (Andy Scott, Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Mick Tucker) Original version released on the “Make Love Like a Man” single (1992)
“Two Steps Behind” (Acoustic version) (Elliott) Original version released on the “Make Love Like a Man” single Originally released on the Last Action Hero soundtrack (1993)
“She’s Too Tough” (Elliott) Original version released on the “Heaven Is” single (1993) and is the bonus track for the Japanese pressing of Adrenalize (1992)
“Miss You in a Heartbeat” (Phil Collen) Original version released on the “Make Love Like a Man” single
“Only After Dark” (Mick Ronson, Scott Richardson) Original version released on the “Let’s Get Rocked” single (1992)
“Ride into the Sun” (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Savage) Original version released on the “Hysteria” single (1987) First recording of the song released on The Def Leppard E.P. (1979)
“From the Inside” (Elliott) Originally released on the “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” single
“Ring of Fire” (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, Savage) Original version released on the “Armageddon It” single (1988)
“I Wanna Be Your Hero” (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Lange, Savage) Original version released on the “Hysteria” single
“Miss You in a Heartbeat” (Electric version) (Collen) This was the Japanese bonus track for Adrenalize
“Two Steps Behind” (Electric version) (Elliott)
“Miss You in a Heartbeat” (Piano version) (Hidden track)) (Collen)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Released: August 2, 1986 Genre: Hard Rock/Glam Metal Duration: 36:05 Label: Mercury Producer(s): Andy Johns Certified: 3xPlatinum (RIAA) Singles: “Shake Me”, “Nobody’s Fool”, “Somebody Save Me”
OVERVIEW
I’m putting this record under the category of “The Greatest Rock Albums of the 80s”, because as subjective as it may sound, this album has no weak, boring or spiritless song. I don’t think Cinderella could’ve made a better debut album! “Night Songs” was often criticized for being too generic and quite indistinguishable among the endless sea of hair metal bands, releasing pretty similar music, all cooked by following the well-established recipe for success in the late 80s. I can never agree with this statement because Cinderella were everything BUT your ordinary glam rock band. Unfortunately, their image was what often confused people, though I always say that their talent goes above and beyond the big hair, tight leather pants and leopard shirts. We also have to consider their secret weapon – Tom Keifer. Unfortunately, when we talk about male rock vocalists he is often forgotten, despite possessing one of the most unique high-pitched voices. On top of that, he was/is a brilliant songwriter – each and every song on “Night Songs” is written by him! Such a talent!
“Night Songs” offers an excellent selection of blues-oriented explosive metal riffs of guitarist Jeff LaBar, flavored by the scratchy fierce voice of Tom Keifer, all cloaked under dark, mysterious and quite intriguing character of the record. Their first single “Shake Me”, despite not making it on the charts, rocks pretty hard; sexy, suggestive, catchy and uplifting, the song is one of their ultimate classics. The power-ballad “Nobody’s Fool” is the song that actually got me into their music years ago. One of the most intense and beautifully written power-ballads of the era though I’m not sure I can put it under the same category as the numerous other silly little love ballads of the 80s – it’s too special and so much better! “Nobody’s Fool” is just a different kind of monster, though I definitely hear some AC/DC and Def Leppard influence. “Nothin for Nothin”, “Hell on Wheels” and “In From the Outside” – all infectious rockers, with not so much lyrical depth but still leaving quite the aftertaste! The title track “Night Songs” is a bit darker and gloomier, though quite rhythmic and obsessive. The third single “Somebody Save Me” has quite the memorable MV with their benefactors Bon Jovi appearing at the end. The song itself is one of the finest moments of the record with the most memorable lyrics, telling us about the failed American dream.
To sum up, don’t get turned off by how Cinderella look because believe me, there’s so much more to them than their image!! Cinderella are no Poison or Warrant – their music comes from deeper places. “Night Songs” has a special aura, fuelled with actual music competence in addition to the obvious blues base – all that makes things so much more interesting. After just one listen you will understand what’s the difference between Cinderella and all the other spandex-wearing boys of the era. It’s such a shame that this album and the band never actually got the recognition they deserved. But I’m here to remind you and get to you – listen to this gorgeous explosion of riffs full of live and vocals out of this world!
Tracklist:
“Night Songs” – 4:12 “Shake Me” – 3:44 “Nobody’s Fool” – 4:49 “Nothin’ for Nothin'” – 3:33 “Once Around the Ride” – 3:22 “Hell on Wheels” – 2:49 “Somebody Save Me” – 3:16 “In from the Outside” – 4:07 “Push, Push” – 2:52 “Back Home Again” – 3:30
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
At the end of 2016, Deep Purple released “Infinite’s” first single – the progressive opening track, “Time for Bedlam”. The song’s instant success on YouTube and social media definitely lifted my spirits – there was finally something to look forward to in the upcoming year. That spectacular guitar vs. organ race, colored by Ian Gillan’s as elegant and alluring as ever voice, gave me nothing but hope that “InFinite” will be one of the best sonic experiences of 2017. The groovy “Hip Boots” is nothing but a back-to-the-roots delight on which Steve Morse’s stirring guitar shines as bright as the sun. “All I Want Is You” turned into an instant favorite and that’s not just because I’m a softie. Those stimulating keyboards and of course, the lyrics conquered me at first listen. The album picks up the pace with the bluesy “One Night in Vegas” and the classic Deep Purple-sounding “Get Me Outta Here”. “Johnny’s Band” and “On Top of the World” are just a couple of the highlights on “InFinite”, completing your vintage, yet so modern Purple adventure. The album wraps things up with an excellent homage to The Doors and their timeless classic, “Roadhouse Blues”.
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MY ROCK MIXTAPES 