Burst the Bubble [Import]

Company of Snakes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ryko Distribution
• ASIN: B00005UDVL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,166 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

On the list of the most important and influential bands in the history of rock music, the now-disbanded Whitesnake have always featured in a prominent position. Particularly the original line-up consisting of vocalist David Coverdale, the two guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody and bassist Neil Murray is still considered legendary. Whitesnake operated in this brilliant line-up between 1978 and 1982, releasing a number of celebrated albums like Northwinds (1978), Snakebite (1978), Trouble (1978), Live At Hammersmith (1978), Lovehunter (1979), Ready An' Willing (1980), Live In The Heart Of The City (1980), and Come & Get It (1981). Their 1982 recording Saints An' Sinners marked the end of the classic line-up. David Coverdale reorganised the group and landed real mega-sellers with the subsequent offerings Slide It In (9184) and particularly 1987. The album 1987 (including the single release ‘Here I Go Again') went on to become the most successful album in the band's history. While Coverdale continued to work with different Whitesnake line-ups, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody and Neil Murray initially went their separate ways. Marsden formed Alaska, and Moody, together with Bad Company drummer Boz Burrell, founded the band Nightfly. Bassist Neil Murray joined Gary Moore, with whom he, and the two Deep Purple musicians Ian Paice and Jon Lord, continued to write rock history, eventually working with Brian May and Peter Green's Splinter Group. Towards the end of the Nineties, Moody, Marsden, and Murray, to the delight of their fans, brought back the memorable early Whitesnake flair with the foundation of The Company of Snakes, enlisting the support of former Rainbow/Gary Moore/Ozzy Osbourne keyboarder Don Airey. Their drummer was the former Manfred Mann's Earthband/Roger Chapman/Elkie Brooks skinsman John Lingwood, while the vocalist had to be replaced a number of times, until the ideal frontman was found in Stockholm-born Stefan Berggren! . The Company Of Snakes toured all over Europe in this impressive line-up, leaving enthusiastic fans in their wake who delighted in a new range of timeless rock songs, presenting their brilliant double live album Here They Go Again in January 2001, including a number of legendary Whitesnake rock classics like ‘Here I Go Again', ‘Lovehunter', ‘Fool For Your Loving', ‘Sweet Talker' and the Rainblow classic ‘Since You've Been Gone', as well as a number of new tracks. The band then embarked on their successful European tour alongside Mob Rules and subsequently ensconced themselves in the studio to start working on Burst The Bubble. Following the release of their new album, The Company Of Snakes are due to embark on another European tour – dates to be revealed in the near future.

Product Description

Burst The Bubble is The Company of Snakes' successful attempt to come up with an album that forges a link with unforgettable Whitesnake recordings like ‘Ready And Willin' or ‘Lovehunter'. With their timeless hard rock Made in Britain that is based on blues, boogie and traditional rock influences, The Company Of Snakes reduce possible arguments about trends and fashions to absurdity, while proving that there will always be an audience for their brand of classic rock.

Like they did during the glorious Seventies and Eighties, Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden have once again proved that they not only continue to rank among the best rock guitarists of the scene, they are also among the most distinctive and tasteful composers of their genre. Songs like the opener ‘Labour of Love', the melodic ‘Sacrificial Feeling', ‘Little Miss Happiness' with its good-time rock'n'roll attitude, ‘Back To The Blues' (which really doesn't require further explanation), or the ballad ‘Those Days' bear the unmistakable mark of the two experienced musicians and songwriters. Moody and Marsden are supported by brilliant instrumentalists, among which particularly vocalist Stefan Berggren stands out with his bluesy, clear timbre. Berggren's voice and vocal style follow in the footsteps of David Coverdale or Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company), without ever copying these rock legends.

Burst The Bubble was produced by Nikolo Kotzev, producer, songwriter, and guitarist with acts like Baltimore, Brazen Abbot or Nostradamus and engineer/producer of the current Saxon release Killing Ground.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS GET'S 5 STARS JUST FOR BEING DIFFERENT..., February 6, 2002

By 

David Glover "All Around Rocker and Metalhead" (Zanesville,OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burst the Bubble (Audio CD)

... than all the "modern" band's.
The Company Of Snakes take the Pre-1987 Whitesnake sound and run with it.After the mostly covers Double CD "Here They Go Again" this CD is all new material.I knew pretty much what I was going to be getting before the CD arrived all except for one thing - Stefan Berggren's vocals!!! He sounds like David Coverdale but He does not sound like He is 'trying" to sound like Him.Nice to know there's younger singers out there who can sing like this! I see a bright future for Him! Bottom line, this is bluesy soulfelt hard rock that would be at home in the late 70's/early 80's and right at home in My CD player!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Marsden, Moody & Murray are back, February 7, 2003

By 

L. B. Ivarsson (Rock City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burst the Bubble (Audio CD)

The core of Company Of Snakes is the two former members of Whitesnake's best line up (Bernie Marsden & Mickey Moody). When they first formed the band they hired a "Coverdale-sound-alike" singer and simply called the band The Snakes. That line up released one album titled "Once bitten..." and it sounded so similar to (early) Whitesnake that some people actually were fooled to believe it was Whitesnake! After some internal problems the singer got fired, and ex Bad Company vocalist Robert Hart joined the band and the name was changed to Company Of Snakes (an obvious reference to Bad Company & Whitesnake). Robert Hart didn't stay so Marsden and Moody recruited an unknown singer from Sweden - Stefan Berggren, and the well known bass player Neil Murray, who also was a member of the classic Whitesnake line up.

"Burst the bubble" is a good album although it contains too many songs, which has a tendency to draw attention away from the real highlights. If they cut down the number of tracks, to say 10 songs, it would be a much more solid effort.

Some of the songs are in fact re-recordings of tunes from their debut album ("Once bitten..."). I'm sorry to say, but the great "Little miss happiness" were even better in the original version when it was slightly faster and groovier, but it's still one of the best songs. Other outstanding tracks are:

"Labour of love", a bluesy rocker with the same excellent vocal arrangements we got used to listening to David Coverdale back in the mid 1970's.

"Ride, ride, ride" with its obvious similarity to "Outlaw" from Whitesnake's album "Lovehunter".

"What love can do" sounds very much like more recent Whitesnake ballads like "The deeper the love" - a bit soft but still good.

"Back to the blues" - like the title implies it's a blues based rock song, better than the average.

I like the fact that Berggren keep his singing rather low, and not try to impress us with the "high pitch screams" some other vocalists seem to think is the main task of being a rock singer. If you sit around complaining about the current state of music and wonder where all the good times have gone, I think this album would be of interest. It's not as good as Whitesnake's "Love hunter" and "Ready an' willing" but it's the closest thing to the original at this time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a labor of love!, February 14, 2002

By 

Bete Noire (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burst the Bubble (Audio CD)

Featuring the two 'snakes' Bernie Marsden and Mickey Moody,plus legendary Neil Murray and John Lingwood,this Company delivers,aided by the strong and inspired vocals of one Swedish Stefan Berggren.This is a beautiful and long awaited album full of nostalgia and also new blood;for the die-hard Whitesnake/Coverdale fans this album is a special treat:full on smokey blues and rock'n'roll that stands proudly aside "Ready and Willing".