Sorin Vlasiu

Hi !

I’m an old fan of Uriah Heep since hearing their first album back in 1970. I was impatiently waiting for Sonic Origami, so last Friday I called my favourite CD shop to ask news about it. The CD was already available ! After a quick trip at lunch time, SO was on my desk. I had time to listen it several times since.

I have all the Heep albums on CD (excepted Equator still as LP) and I am quite much into heavy metal and classical music listening in general. I was very well impressed by Sea Of Light but I still remembered also the weakness of Different World. Concerning SO, I was also a bit worried by the radio friendly term as mentioned earlier by Mick Box.

On a first listening I noted that SO was less heavy and punchy than SOL, but things got better after more listening. My CD is a limited edition with a bonus track. Almost 75 minutes of well crafted songs and excellent playing. Bernie sings very well, Phil’s keyboards are very present, Mick shows once again that he’s one of the best guitar players, Lee is also keeping the pace with the best heavy metal drummers and Trevor confirms he’s the best bass player that Heep got since Gary Thain (R.I.P). The characteristic Heep background vocals are present too.

So, the quality ingredients and quantity are there. My first impression was that SO rocks less and it’s overall less immediate than SOL. SO has more FM rock and AOR songs together with a more polished production and sound. SO may attempt to reach a wider audience but I don’t know what are the chances in the heavy metal area (and Uriah Heep is widely known as one of the founders of what today is called heavy metal).

Once listening the music flows smoothly being very melodic. A special mention for the song writer talent of Trevor which signs some of the best songs (just like on SOL too).

There are quite many ballads (Uriah Heep had always some great ballad on each album). The best of the ballads is, for me, SHELTER FROM THE RAIN signed by Trevor and I think it was the best one to chose for being released as a single. Bluesy and with a great guitar solo from Mick. QUESTION is also a great ballad. THE GOLDEN PALACE uses some nice orchestration and it is also the longest song with its 8 minutes but the background vocals are sounding a bit too commercial here, in my opinion.

The majority of the songs are however mid-paced or faster, the best for me (in this category) being ONLY THE YOUNG (potential hit there), BETWEEN TWO WORLDS and I HEAR VOICES. I miss a bit a really heavy rocker with some crunchy riffs from Mick. But Mick’s solos on SO are top quality and do very much for the songs. I think there is only one song on the CD which I don’t care too much about (still I may like it after more listening). ACROSS THE MILES sounds good to me but I don’t know the original version.

Overall I think SO deserves a very good recommendation as a hard AOR album but, personally, I still prefer SOL which is heavier and more passionate.

I would like to ask Uriah Heep the following : when these days bands like Hammerfall, Rhapsody, Labyrinth, etc. mark a successful return to a more epic metal (once pioneered by Uriah Heep), why didn’t they took the risk/opportunity of making again a Demons And Wizards, Magician’s Birthday or Look At Yourself era inspired album ?

In any case .. Congratulations to Uriah Heep ! Keep on rockin’ and good luck !

Greetings to all the Heepsters and thanks to all those keeping the Heep related web pages ! You keep the flame alive.

Sorin