Back in 2016, proto-metal legends Lucifer's Friend made it back to the comeback trail with their excellent reunion album Too Late To Hate, and here they are just a few short years later with their excellent follow-up, Black Moon. Honestly, it's as if the '70s never ended here on this latest effort from the band, that killer mix of heavy guitars with simmering Hammond organ & synths, as well as John Lawton's still potent, soaring vocals, ever present throughout ten new compositions. Along with Lawton, co-founders Peter Hesslein (guitars, keyboards) and Dieter Horns (bass) are joined by drummer Stephan Eggert and keyboard player Jogi Wichmann.
Things get started on a real high note with the raucous title track, a boisterous hard rock tune with some great guitar riffs, a guest trumpet solo from Chuck Findley, and Lawton's powerful vocal delivery. Man, does he ever still have it!! "Passengers" rocks, and rocks hard, images of Lucifer's Friend from the early '70s, as well as vintage Uriah Heep (who Lawton sang for in the late '70s) and Deep Purple, are running wild on this one, while bits of prog and jazz are sprinkled on memorable tunes like "Rolling the Stone" and "Behind the Smile". For "Palace of Fools", the band crank out some heavy guitar & synth riffs, Lawton shining again on the vocals with some furious venom as well as more emotional passages, Hesslein and Wichmann also trading off on some fiery guitar & synth solos. "Call the Captain" is an upbeat metallic rocker, loaded with hooks, "Little Man" brings the blues, "Freedom" a catchy hard rocker fueled by some terrific guitar work courtesy of Hesslein, and "Taking It To the Edge" recalls early '80s hook laden melodic rock, chock full of memorable melodies, synths, and hard rock guitars. Closer "Glory Days" again delivers those soaring '80s styled hooks alongside plenty of guitar muscle, Lawton singing up a storm like a man half his age.
If this was ten years ago, who would have thought we'd be talking about a killer new Lucifer's Friend album in 2019? The truth is, that is indeed the case, and for any longtime fan of the band, get ready to celebrate another stellar release from this often overlooked proto-metal/heavy prog act from the '70s who are back, and back with a vengeance.
Track Listing
1. Black Moon
2. Passengers
3. Rolling the Stone
4. Behind the Smile
5. Palace of Fools
6. Call the Captain
7. Little Man
8. Freedom
9. Taking It to the Edge
10. Glory Days
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