Uriah Heep: Living the Dream

Few legacy bands have had as strong of a late renaissance as legendary British heavy rock act Uriah Heep. Though they released periodic solid albums throughout the 1990's, it wasn't until 2008's Wake the Sleeper that a re-energized Heep found the fountain of youth and started cranking out albums that rivaled some of their classic '70s material. 2011's Into the Wild and 2014's Outsider continued the trend of hard hitting, memorable studio releases that were extremely well received by critics and fans alike, and now four years later, the equally stunning Living the Dream is upon us.

With founder and lead guitarist Mick Box as always at the helm, the band is rounded out by vocalist Bernie Shaw, keyboard player Phil Lanzon (both now in the band for 30 years!), drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. From the opening hard rock bombast of "Grazed By Heaven", it's evident that Heep's penchant for raging guitar riffs, commanding Hammond organ, and soaring vocal hooks is once again front and center. "Living the Dream" and "Take Away My Soul" both feature dazzling vocals from Shaw and Lanzon's fiery Hammond flourishes, while the snarling "Knocking at My Door" sees Box letting loose with some savage riffing over Gilbrook's acrobatic drums, the two giving Shaw more than enough ammo to help him deliver a potent heavy rock anthem. Fans of Deep Purple will love "Rocks In the Road", a tune with plenty of bluesy hard rock swagger, which leads into the bluesy acoustic strains of the catchy "Waters Flowin'".

Early Uriah Heep albums often saw the band blend elements of progressive rock with proto-metal, which can be heard on the adventurous "It's All Been Said", as Lanzon drops in some mighty Hammond, synths, and piano throughout the song, giving plenty of colors and textures, Box also joining the fray with thunderous riffs and a scalding wah-wah solo. Also noteworthy on this epic sounding track are the multi-part vocal harmonies, another Heep trademark. "Goodbye to Innocence" is a raucous, rumbling, galloping hard rocker, "Falling Under Your Spell" a vintage sounding piece that could have easily come from Wonderworld or Return to Fantasy, and closer "Dreams of Yesteryear" dips into majestic melodic rock, Shaw delivering an emotional vocal over crisp riffs, shimmering keys, and rock solid grooves. It's a classy way to end a classy album.

Considering all this band have been through since they burst on the scene in 1970, it's almost impossible to believe that are still consistently delivering new material this strong nearly 50 years later. Living the Dream is an outstanding work, arguably their strongest release since 2008's Wake the Sleeper, and an easy contender for best album of 2018. Pick yourself up a copy and hear how this group of old veterans can still kick your ass in a big way.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing

1. Grazed By Heaven
2. Living The Dream
3. Take Away My Soul
4. Knocking At My Door
5. Rocks In The Road
6. Waters Flowin’
7. It’s All Been Said
8. Goodbye To Innocence
9. Falling Under Your Spell
10. Dreams Of Yesteryear
11. Take Away My Soul (Alternate Version) Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition Only)

Added: September 28th 2018
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
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Language: english

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