All about the album Uriah Heep - "Living The Dream" (2018)
It's hard to argue with the assertion that the British rock band. Uriah Heep (Uriah Heep) is seen by domestic music lovers in a very different way from the rest of the world. It was the "Heeps" who introduced the people of the perestroika period with "branded" rock 'n' roll, entering firmly into the musical history of the state, finding boundless love of millions of Russians.
Although the band's latest albums continue to be recognised, regularly released and licensed by local recording studios, for Russia Uriah Heep is more "about nostalgia".. It was the classic line-up of 1970-1978 that domestic listeners fell in love with, sinking into their hearts.
So, back in the summer. 1982 popular magazine "Rovesnick." ran a scathing article about the rock band with a telling headline - "All that's left is the name!". Perhaps the peculiarities of Russian thinking, its adherence to tradition and its persistent rejection of any changes are to blame. Nevertheless, there is no sense in ignoring the obvious: Uriah Heep's repertoire changed dramatically after Ken Hensley's departure.
Hensley left the band in 1980In the end, the other members were frantically searching for ideas for new songs and albums. In an effort not to lose popularity, they actively experimented with a variety of musical styles and trends, grabbing all the latest trends.
Thus, in the period 1982-1985 in the repertoire of Uriah Heep (Uriah Heep) clearly heard the influence of both "New Wave of English heavy metal" and "Rock for adults".
The band managed to regain its own integrity, to finally find its identity only in 1987.when she was joined Phil Lan и Bernie Shaw. Having the right ideas about musical balance, the limit of gravity, they filled the songs with melody, formed a harmonious sound. Thus, since 1982, Uriah Heep has been different. Not better or worse, just different.
Legendary metropolitan 1987 concertsOn which three brand new songs were presented to domestic listeners, the rock band's popularity was significantly influenced and its status was significantly raised. You bet, the world's rock 'n' roll stars in the land of a newly restructured state!
Uriah Heep's real triumph, however, was the 1989 album "Raging Sience.". Its success came as a surprise even to the band's guitarist - Mika Boxa. This work gathered a record number of rave reviews and positive reviews, was favourably received by critics, defining a new vector of development of the band's sound. Its uniqueness lay in the purely English "Rock for grown-ups."complemented by nostalgic moods and transitions.
The formula for success Uriah Heep are still in use today, only occasionally shocking fans with boisterous announcements about the "back to basics.", "to the classic sound of the 1970s.". At times, though, they do experiment, trying to lightly "weight it down" sound. The success of such techniques is clearly visible in the albums "Sea Of Light" и "Wake The Sleeper". Combining classic rock 'n' roll motifs and intense British . "Rock for grown-ups."They have been praised by music critics and listeners alike, soaring to the top of the most prestigious charts.
"Living The Dream" - new work of the band. Embracing all the best features of the previous albums, filled with a pleasant spirit of nostalgia, it became the main discovery of the year. Echoes of retro-rock can be clearly heard in the intro to the album "Take Away My Soul".
The track so harmoniously combines the familiar keyboards, guitar and rhythm sections of the older generation that it feels like it's 1975 all over again! And who better than Mick Box to have the most authentic and accurate representation of the music of that period?
For the new album Uriah Heep makes you want to put a sticker on it: "We're the ones who invented retro rock!". With its velvety and deep sound. "Living The Dream" kind of proves once again that. "The Heep are "the most Russian British band ever.".
If such a formulation makes you doubtful - refer to the song "Grazed By Heaven"which was chosen by the band to promote the album. It has a very distinct, very old-timey bass guitar sound in it Dave Rimmer. What is interesting, this is the first composition in recent years, to the writing of which were involved outside people. Thus, the author of the lyrics was the legendary Jeff Scott Soto (frontman Sons Of Apollo). He has already had the opportunity to collaborate with a huge number of music stars including. Yngwie Malmsteen и Journey.
The only deviation from the retro concept is perhaps the title track - in it you can catch references to melodic rock, "Roku for grown-ups." of the 1980s. However, hidden under powerful keyboard arrangements, they do not cut the ear, do not spoil the overall picture.
In general, "Living The Dream" is a typical Uriah Heep album, made in a refined and sophisticated British manner, characterised by the highest quality sound. It is a kind of embodiment of adherence to tradition, love for "classic" rock'n'roll.
