I haven't listened to Deep Purple in a while, and listening their 20th studio album is quite an achievement for such an old-fashioned band. Their old rock style, especially from albums such as Deep Purple in Rock, is completely outdated - but at the same time their work is so incredibly iconic, that they make no difference. Nevertheless, this new album feels like a mix of old and new.
Blues rock tracks such as Hip Boots and One Night in Vegas are definitely old school, but they somehow fit in this relatively darker-toned album. I refer to darker tones due to the hard-hitting opening track. A mix of Black Sabbath and new rising stars of Sweden, Ghost B.C., A Time For Bedlam has got to be one of the darkest tracks they ever created, about the autonomy of humanity and its many flaws. Don't get me wrong, the opening and ending sequences are effective, but when you delve into the later songs of the album, it seems out of place. And unfortunately, the other tracks pale in comparison. This is not the blame of the musicians themselves. Ian Paice is a master drummer, with both pace and versatility to keep a track interesting and noteworthy. Morse and Airey complement each other very well with the guitar providing a wave for which the songs to ride on, and the keyboard giving it that extra kick. At some points I felt an amalgamation of Asia and Boston, especially in those guitar riffs in Johnny's Band. Ian Gillan's distinctive voice still rings through though, and he carries each song well, even if they aren't all outgoing. Some of the songs, such as Get Me Outta Here and On Top of the World feel half-hearted and understated. There's a lot of effort gone into each song, but the listener isn't rewarded with original or contemporary tunes. Apart from the more flamboyant lyrics, there's nothing memorable about some of these tracks. If there's any consolation (and it's a good consolation), Time For Bedlam and the Surprising are two really great additions to this uneven album. The former is perfectly proportioned with an intriguing opening and ominous ending, and a fluorescent and exciting middle. Even better, the Surprising is one continuous adventure of experimenting with different tempos. Ian Paice certainly depicts his masterful skill in that one, and his stamina is commendable. If it weren't for these two tracks, I wouldn't recommend inFinite unless you were a devout follower of Deep Purple. But, in all honesty, these two tracks make it absolutely worth it. 6.5/10
0 Comments
|
AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
October 2017
Categories
All
|