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PREMESSA:
Il 1980 è un anno critico per gli Uriah Heep. Durante il tour di “Conquest” il tastierista e mente creativa del gruppo Ken Hensley è in perenne lotta con il cantante John Sloman (dotato di una voce straordinaria, ma troppo diversa dai precedenti Byron e Lawton). Alla fine dell’ anno Hensley abbandona la band, rimpiazzato da Greg Dechert, che però viene subito allontanato da Mick Box (chitarrista ed ora unico leader degli Heep). In seguito a questo fatto la situazione degenera: Sloman abbandona per avviare la sua carriera solita (tuttavia il suo primo disco uscira solo nove anni più tardi!), Bolder (bassista) non se la sente di continuare in una situazione così precaria. Se ne va pure Slade (batterista) che aveva sostituito Lee Kerslake per il solo 1980.
Gli Uriah Heep non esistono più per due anni, periodo in cui Box è costantemente depresso ed ubriaco marcio. A salvarlo ritorna l’ amico Kerslake che porta con sé il bassista Bob Daisley della Ozzy Osbourne band. Per completare la formazione vengono reclutati Peter Goalby, cantante di estrazione hard rock (è stato, ad es., nei Trapeze) e John Sinclair, tastierista di una band metal emergente.
IL DISCO:
Nel 1982 finalmente esce “Abominog”: già dopo due/tre canzoni si capisce di essere di fronte ad un disco che vuole tagliare col passato, specialmente con il pop-rock raffinato di “Conquest” .
[LATO A] Si parte con “Too Scared To Run” (*****): un giro di chitarra furibondo e tagliente, quasi metal, apre e segna tutta la canzone. Si inseriscono poi tutti gli altri strumenti a completare i primi quattro minuti scarsi nel modo più intenso possibile. Segue “Chasing Shadows” (***), una canzone standard pop-rock tipica del periodo con tante e buone tastiere: carina ma niente di trascendentale. “On The Rebound” (****) è una cover, tra l’altro nettamente superiore dell’originale, di Russ Ballard (dall’ album “Barnet Dogs” del 1979): grandi tastiere, grande ritmo, molto anni ’ 80… ma anche tanta qualità!. “Hot Night In A Cold Town” (*****) è una ballata che si apre con tastiere che simulano il pianoforte, e continua con sonorità dolci ma allo stesso tempo energiche: qui il pezzo forte è il ritornello veramente sopra le righe. Si prosegue su livelli molto alti con “ Running All Night (With The Lion)” (****): grinta da vendere coniugata a tanta melodia!
[LATO B] Stesso discorso vale per la fenomenale “That’ s The Way That It Is” (*****) accreditata a Paul Bliss e, sicuramente, una delle migliori canzoni del disco: non ho parole per descriverla… bisogna solo ascoltarla (all’ epoca diventò anche un discreto hit). L’album prosegue senza picchi con le ballate “Prisoner” (***) e “Hot Persuasion” (***): carine per carità, ma niente di speciale. Si migliora con “Sell Your Soul” (****), indubbiamente i cinque minuti più heavy dell’ intero disco… e si chiude in bellezza con “Think It Over” (*****). In questo caso gli Uriah Heep fanno una cover di se stessi. La canzone infatti era uscita come 45 giri dopo “Conquest” (infatti è composta dal duo Bolder/Sloman)… carina ma un po’ fiacca: il nuovo arrangiamento dell’ 82 la ritrasforma in una parla… indiscutibilmente un altro highlight dell’album!
[BONUS TRACKS] L’edizione rimasterizzata del 1997 presenta 4 canzoni bonus. Due sono le demo di “That’ s The Way That It Is” e di “Hot Persuasion”. Per quanto riguarda le rimanenti invece… “Tin Soldier” (*****) è una fantastica cover degli Small Faces, mentre “Son Of A Bitch” (****) è una buon pezzo di hard rock.
CONCLUSIONI:
“ Abominog” è un prodotto eccellente, consigliato a tutti i fan degli Uriah Heep, ai fan del metal degli ’80 ed a tutti coloro che cercano un disco capace di trasmettere chili e chili di energia.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Too Scared to Run (03:46)
Too scared I could not run
I could not make a sound
Lights were flashing
My whole life passing
My feet were stuck to the ground
Too light to call it night
Too dark to call it day
Too scared to stay and fight
Too scared to run away
So scared I could not move
I could not make a sound
There were people running
People shouting
Flashes all around
Too scared to run
Too scared to run away
Too scared I could not think
My eyes could not scarcely see
My heart was racing
My legs were shaking
They would not carry me
Lights were flashing
My whole life passing
My heart, my heart
My heart was racing
My legs were shaking
Could not see, I could not see
03 On the Rebound (03:14)
On the rebound, on the rebound
That's how you fell for me
That's how you changed my life
You cut me like a knife
On the rebound, on the rebound
You came, you saw, you took
It only took one look
And lady, I was hooked
On the rebound - it's a replay ...
Your love was on the rebound
On the rebound
You came and took my soul
You came and left a hole
Where your love used to be
On the rebound, on the rebound
You like to drown in your tears
And after all these years
You give your pain to me
On the rebound - you came to me, babe
On the rebound - to set you free
On the rebound - too bad for me
Your love was on the rebound
You came to me
To set you free
To pray for me
It's a replay
You came to repay
It's a replay
To set you free
Just a replay
Your love was
Just a replay
06 That's the Way That It Is (04:04)
I've been thinking about
What you said last night
And for all your fine words
You still don't have it right
'Cause that's the way that it is
And you won't ever change
You can scream at me
But the powers that be
Won't ever hear your voice
'Cause they're lost
In their own importance
No, they'll never hear your voice
'Cause that's the way that it is
And you won't ever change it
I've heard all your stories
Of how the few can be strong
And how you'll fight to the end
Just to prove me wrong
'Cause that's the way that you are
And you won't ever change it
But don't come cryin' to me
If your fanciful schemes
Don't turn out like you planned
'Cause you're chasin'
After something
That keeps slippin'
Through your hand
That's the way that it is
And you won't change it
07 Prisoner (04:28)
Time has come to say goodbye
To the broken memories
They're locked inside like prisoners
In a place that no-one sees
Stayed up late with a friend of mine
Southern comfort till dawn
We talked about the pains of love
Should've known from
The start you were wrong
I'm just a prisoner
Don't wanna lock myself away
Prisoner - I get so lonely, lonely
I'm a prisoner
Just when do you think love will stay
It walks right out on you - out on you
Tired blood runs through my veins
But I can't get no sleep
You lock my heart
In these prison walls
This place I've got to leave
I'm a prisoner
Don't wanna lock myself away
Prisoner - I get so lonely, lonely
I'm a prisoner
Just when do you think love will stay
It walks right out on you - out on you
The sky is grey, it's raining
Like the storm in my heart
There ain't no use explaining
'cause I'm leaving, leaving
Won't somebody set me free
Take me away from this misery
I get so lonely
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely
Won't somebody set me free
Please, please, set me free
09 Sell Your Soul (05:22)
I got a solid silver reason
I got something you'll never buy
I've spent my life playing rock'n'roll
I wouldn't tell a lie
Well if you want to taste the freedom
Just let the music take a hold
I'm possessed by rock'n'roll
There's a thunder
See it and wonder
How to play the game
It's easy
You know we're gonna live forever
You know we're never gonna die
You see it's written
Across the sky tonight
I'm gonna tell you why
Because they've covered up the exits
We got a spotlight just for you
Im possessed by rock'n'roll
Hear me callling, stars are falling
Taking me away
Stand up - shout it out
I'm possessed by rock 'n' roll
Stand up - shout it out
Sell your soul
Stand up - shout it out
Let the music take a hold
Stand up - shout it out
Rock 'n' roll
Can't you feel we're getting stronger
Getting stronger every day
There ain't nothing gonna stop us
Oh, there ain't no way
It's like a rolling ball of thunder
You know it's never gonna stop
You know it's gonna drag you under
See me soaring
Thunders roaring
Things afraid again
I got a solid silver reason
I got something you'll never buy
I've spent my life with rock'n'roll
Oh no, would I lie
But if you want to taste the freedom
Just let the music take a hold
I'm possessed by rock'n'roll
There's a thunder
See it and wonder
How to play the game
It's easy
It's gonna drag you under
Gonna take your heart and soul
You gotta shout, shout, shout it out
10 Think It Over (03:27)
I've had all I can take
I've taken just too much
I've made a big mistake
That put me out of touch
I don't think I can face
Another single day
Without a call from you
To take this pain away
So many tears ago
You turned and walked away
It could've been the end
But I knew better
I had to tell myself
There'll be another day
She wants to call it quits
But don't you let her
Can't you see
There's a chance for you and me
Think it over
Don't believe
In the things that may not be
Think it over
Why don't you think it over
Forgetting you is out
I ain't givin' in
The fuss was down to you
But it's not over
You have to face the truth
I'm still in love with you
I have to make you see
That it's not over
Why don't you think about it, babe
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Rainbow Rising
Mick Box, inossidabile chitarrista, pare che abbia preso il suonare come una missione.
Abominog fu un disco sicuramente ben riuscito e che raggiunse pienamente il proprio intento.
