Too Much Information is the musical collaboration between longtime Uriah Heep vocalist Bernie Shaw and Canadian guitarist/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Dale Collins, the duo having a friendship that has lasted many years and this new full-length release containing updated versions of songs that they recorded together previously for an EP and some brand new selections. Ron Restall played drums on the album and Jason Gardenits contributing piano, with Collins handling all guitars, bass, and keyboards save for a few other guests helping out on a song or two.
Many of the tracks on Too Much Information are instantly memorable hard/melodic rock, not quite as heavy or bombastic as what we expect from Shaw in Uriah Heep, but not that far removed actually. "So Many Times" and "Here We Go" contain plenty of tasty riffs and snarling, metallic blues rock solos from Collins, with Shaw's vocals as always very impressive. There's a reason he's been fronting Heep for over 30 years...the guy is THAT GOOD. "Sad Song" and "Alone" are soaring, melodic rockers with hooks aplenty, while "Hey Jimi" is a fun & heartfelt tribute to the late, great Jimi Hendrix, complete with many lyrical references to so many classic Hendrix songs, though thankfully Collins opted not to go full-bore with mimicking Jimi's guitar style on the piece and instead stayed within his own self. "Just a Little Bit" is a driving, rootsy blues rocker, jacked with sizzling acoustic & electric guitar tones, while the album ends with a cover of the David Essex classic "Rock On", Shaw having a blast on this funky rendition of a '70s staple.
All in all, Too Much Information is a lot of fun, some quality rock 'n' roll from Uriah Heep's fine frontman and his buddy Dale. Well worth seeking out.
Track Listing
1. SO MANY TIMES
2. ALONE
3. HERE WE GO
4. TOO MUCH INFORMATION
5. SAD SONG
6. HEY JIMI
7. JUST A LITTLE BIT
8. ROCK ON