Graham Hulme

I have left it a week before putting a review together, to ensure that my inital reaction wasn't just the euphoria of hearing the first new Heep songs for a long time, I am pleased to report that my inital 3-word comment still stands proud - "IT'S ******* GREAT!"

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS sends out a bold, clear statement from the start - "THIS IS URIAH HEEP, MAKE NO MISTAKE!". Monster guitar chords, thunderous rhythm section, but pleanty of harmony and melody with it. Bernie's high note leading back into the end sections is a special moment, believe me.

I HEAR VOICES and PERFECT LITTLE HEART rock (boy, do they rock!), but in a catchy way. I feared the word "radio-friendly" used before release, but this is the best kind of commercial. After 24 years as a Heep fanatic, it says something that Mick can still surprise me, but here he does...the riffs are far more inventive than even I gave him credit for.

HEARTLESS LAND. A mellow acoustic track comes just at the right time, and very pleasant too, although not a favourite of mine. Possibily destined as a single, I can't see it being a hit in the UK at least, but I hope I'm wrong.

IN THE MOMENT IS a current favourite, for its instrumental passages, which again surprise in their inventiveness. Great playing on this one. QUESTION/CHANGE. Again in mellower mood, I think I prefer Question to Heartless Land. It's catchy again, but less obvously so. Chorus is reminiscent of the Moody Blues. Change drives along as a great contrast. This section of the CD is a lyrical high-point, with "Question" posing them, and "Change" providing the answers.

SHELTER FROM THE RAIN. Surprise time again! Having read the preview in UHAS magazine, I was expecting to be disappointed. Turns out to be my absolute favourite so far. Yes, it's a blues track, but no "I-woke-up-this- morning"-twelve-bar this one. It's smooth as silk, with a beautiful chord structure and melody. This track is sheer ecstasy. Yet again Mick surprises with his versatility of style, here reminiscent of It Bites' Francis Dunnery.

EVERYTHING IN LIFE. Yes, we've heard this drum pattern a few times from Heep (Weekend Warriors, Too Scared To Run) but this time it's married with a much better melody, and top-notch production.

ACROSS THE MILES. Seems strange to say it, but this, being the most commercial song on the CD, has taken time to grow on me. Damn, I was singing it in bed last night (nothing better to do, ha!)

The FEELS LIKE riff stomps in emphatic style, and the chorus bounces along nicely. Great modern intro and outro.

THE GOLDEN PALACE. Well, if I have to be critical, this is probably the track I would choose. It's pleasant enough, but we've heard so much of it before. It's a bit of a Frankenstein's monster, made up of bits from previous current line-up songs.The classical string intro from When The War Is Over, followed by the Dream On acoustic riff. The centre section pinches the flute solo from Mistress Of All Time, and the ending is nothing more than the "Woahhhs" from the end of Different World. Bit formulaic and over-long.

SWEET PRETENDER is only a limited edition bonus track, but deserves to be on the CD for keeps. It just rocks, but again catchy.

The production on the album is big....HUGE...but at the same time not overblown in the way Equator was. Vocally this album is wonderful - Bernie shines throughout, and the harmonies are varied and beautifully constructed. Lee has used a lot more variety then before, Mick, as I have already said, surpises throughout the album with both his styles and sounds. Phil uses the Hammond probably more effectively than ever before, and his songwriting partnership with Mick continues to develop. Trevor's playing is tasteful...just the right balance between solidity and intricacy, and his song writing contributions here are by far his strongest to date. People often talk about the "chemistry" of the "classic" line-up. The reaction within this one has taken longer (time-wise if not output-wise), but it has been more than worth the wait. The 90's URIAH HEEP has now for me gained that "classic" status. THIS IS URIAH HEEP, MAKE NO MISTAKE!!!

Graham Hulme

I missed Only The Young!

ONLY THE YOUNG. Hit single! Top quality. No more need be said.

Graham