A "bad" transition album?

"Conquest" is a bad album. A concoction ... Will be happy by some fans and then when the album was released, especially of contemporary music press (including Music Express) expressed so. Well ... That was in 1980, a long time ago ...

Can a band like Uriah Heep make "bad" music? A question which could deal quite empirically. I want to briefly illuminate the times. This would be all the songs and ideas of the band Uriah Heep, which have arisen over the decades from the start, compare. And you realize that somehow always resurface songs or fragments that provide some recognition. Regardless of the era ...

Songs in which this is so, can be bad from the Perspekive a lover of the music of Uriah Heep basically not. And: The music is as good as the composer and the musician who makes them. Really bad music? I do not think so. A "piece of work" is "Conquest" therefore certainly not.

Bad it was temporarily that Uriah Heep performed already during their earlier works in the 70s again sound change. These were based on one hand on outdoor exposure, because the record company obviously wanted to see sales. So there was increasingly the odd pop song with views of the then current charts. The band was beyond unfortunately very early long epic songs and phenomenal powerful and pathetic about songs like "Salisbury", "The Spell" or "July Morning" to the grave ... This was followed by the mid-70s no long epic songs more. For fans of progressive music that was sobering.

On the other hand, there were a lot of musicians and singers change, and with them others ideas. Everyone wanted to somehow push through his ideas. And unfortunately this can only go in the pants.

The art is still, to write songs so that they are the other key figures such as singer or drummer inscribed on his body. Because it's not about who is writing the song. But how and for whom ...

Whether it was therefore of wisdom last word at the end of the 70 in late-stage band that mainly Ken Hensley wrote the songs for Uriah Heep, I do not know. He (Hensley) emphasizes this very day, that his compositions have often been misinterpreted by the band. So was when "Conquest" In 1980, the starting position. And therefore, this statement may perhaps vote for "Conquest". For more but not earlier Heep songs.

For the band, which was actually founded by Mick Box and David Byron was good enough that some thinner Hensley - song properly got substance and power. The creative head Hensley added so very well with the rest of the band. Especially in the period of occupation with Box / Byron / Hensley / Kerslake / Thain ...

The songs here on the unloved album "Conquest" are not all bad. "No Return" for example. A progressive piece, as there was for a long time no longer be heard from the band at the time ... Or "Feelings". A remnant from the time something more pop with John Lawton as lead singer until 1979. Or in my eyes (and especially my ears ...) previously fabled "It Is not Easy", which came from Trevor Bolder's spring! A really good song. Also "Fools" is very well done ... Except the song ... All in all, "Conquest" So not bad. It can not be bad because all the songs are compositionally well in approach.

But at that time simply the wrong musicians were in the band. Chris Slade fit despite "miracle drums" (so was in the Bravo!) Not in the band. And John Sloman's singing was horrendous. Mick Box apparently had no right desire more. Rocking riffs and solos polynuclear? Here in "Conquest" nil ... It is understandable that from all good compositions just not quite as good songs were. The songs were the musicians not "inscribed on his body" ...

But "Conquest" was an end and a new beginning; a transition to a new beginning ...

Perhaps had "Conquest" actually be in order to take a new approach to. There were 1980 only two alternatives. Uriah Heep completely to bury or to continue with a new cast. Ken Hensley left the band in frustration. For any fan of this decision meant the end of the band Uriah Heep.

But it was not ... I thought the (final) in the late 1970s - times and the archetypal Uriah Heep sound. Mick Box went on anyway, and then went after initially a completely different way. To the end, also reunited with Lee Kerslake and Trevor Bolder, to the origin - to approximate sound of Uriah Heep.

Til today ...

Yes ... Today Write Mick Box and Hensley - successor Phil Lanzon, matured into a songwriter duo, customized rock songs.

For the lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, who is good thirty years here, for the 2007 is increase in place of Lee Kerslake drummer Russel Gilbrook and for the new bassist Dave Rimmer, who relies on a successor to the late lamented Trevor Bolder a very good figure in the band. Good musicians, good band and songs that are all "written on the body." That's the secret ... How to ....

Uriah Heep is therefore due to these merits far away from an embarrassing Oldie - become chapel that copies itself, but a permanent fixture of the Hard Rock. With very good own new songs, a steady presence and perfect live - performances.

"Conquest" is part of the biography of the band. You have this album but do not really have absolutely. Who Uriah Heep but as a special Rock Band appreciates to this day and enjoys listening to, should deal with it.

That's my advice to ...