Customer Reviews

Sound of the Apocalypse

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have not heard Black Bonzo's debut album Lady of the Light, but what I've read about it indicates their new record, released on Laser's Edge, expands on the same style, blending lots of vintage keyboard work with 70's hard rock and expressive vocal melodies.

Provided that you don't expect anything original, Sound of the Apocalypse is a very strong effort. It immediately brings to mind the great bands of the 70's, such as Deep Purple, ELP, Yes, and Uriah Heep to name a few, and proves that the members of Black Bonzo are big fans of the genre. After playing this album through several times, I was reminded of Presto Ballet a bit, except that this disc rests more on the hard rock spectrum while Presto Ballet is slightly more prog rock-oriented. With a heavy use of Mellotron, Hammond, and Moog sounds, the first track "Thorns Upon a Crown" could immediately be associated with Uriah Heep, especially because of Nicklas Ahlund's searing keyboard solo and the more rhythm-conscious guitar work.

The vocal melody of "Giant Games" seems like it was inspired by Alice Cooper's early 70's releases, much the same way as Savatage incorporated some of that influence on their mid-90's releases as well as Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Vocalist Magnus Lindgren has a very fitting tone to the music, and occasionally recalls vocal gods like Peter Gabriel and Jon Anderson, though more in the way he sings than tonally. It may be his theatrical style of singing why I liken him to Alice Cooper in that respect.

Guitarist Joakim Karlsson's work sounds terrific, especially on the Beatles-flavoured "Yesterday's Friends", which has a great guitar theme in its intro. It is somewhat Floydian-sounding in that is comprised of stretched notes that lend it a slightly pyschedelic feel, but as the wonderfully melodic chorus kicks in the song transforms into its more comfortable rock sound. "The Well" bridges the band's two leanings in a single composition: its first half is a nod to classic rock with the occasional sizzling keyboards behind the poppy vocals, while the second half sees them building a thick thread of vintage prog rock a la Norway's Magic Pie -- the keyboard work here is stunning yielding a dense atmosphere.

Folky flute and mandolin-like acoustic guitar sounds abound on the very short "Intermission - Revelation Song", which strangely reminds me of the material heard on Pallas' most recent album. From here on, the band shift into heavier territory with "Ageless Door", a fast-paced Deep Purple-tinged rock song that boasts plenty of analogue synths and a cool bluesy guitar solo at the end. This one comes as a surprise considering most of the guitar and keyboard work generates a more riff-based texture through the album, as tracks like "Iscariot" and the opening track will highlight best.

The title track is over twelve minutes, and the album's most atmospheric statement in that it touches on a plethora of styles from early Genesis' laidback moments to Gentle Giant's idiosyncratic arrangements and Uriah Heep's more rock-flavoured progressive side.

This is a remarkable piece of work that embodies the strongest aspects of the 70's with cool progressive elements. Don't look for anything new when listening to Sound of the Apocalypse and you won't be disappointed.

Black Bonzo's "Sound Of The Apocalypse" is an excellent blend of progressive 70's rock-if you liked that era of prog rock you'll like this album very much especially if you're fans of Yes,Genesis,Tull,Uriah Heep and Deep Purple. Order it today. You won't regret it.

I saw them last Rosfest. GREAT!! Live performance is superb. Yes, tey use many elements from Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, etc. But, they mix it in their own compositions and it just sounds good. No imitations. So you don't feel like comparing saying: "Ah, they just like ..". They are not like. They are Black Bonzo. Cheers!!

I bought the "extra tracks" version of Sound, but the two extra tracks aren't worth the increase in price. They certainly don't fit the rest of the album and just aren't that good. At first listen, two things struck me about this album. The first was a feeling. For lack of a better phrase, I would call it "thespian overload". The very marshal, militaristic, driving music, the over the top lyrics and the constant rise and fall of the singing combine into a very theatrical delivery (as good as anything you'll see on Broadway). The vision I kept having was of the singer with one hand on his chest and the other pointing to the sky delivering the songs as though he were standing on stage in Vienna, "it's the breaking point of endless tears, a rocking chair close to the apocalypse." The second was hints of Close to the Edge littered throughout the album. At first, I thought the use of the theme meant the band just lacked originality. However, I could not take this album out the player, I listened and listened and listened. They use the theme as more of a leitmotif. They hint at it, twist it, use it, build on it, they keep you tied to the album so you have to listen to the entire album. It becomes an addiction trying to find that motif. Finally, they give up the ghost and break straight into it on Sound of the Apocalypse. Of course, as I listened, I realized the audacity, the sheer over the topness of this rather ambitious under taking make it just plain fun to listen too. The music is so well constructed, the musicianship is on par with anything from Yes, Rush or Genesis, and the lyrics... the lyrics are littered with little gems "and they look to the sky with a finger on the trigger". You can listen to this album a hundred times and you will find something new each time. I thought about giving this 4 stars for those extra tracks, but I just can't.

Last thoughts, for me the range of the music, and especially the range of the singer, put these guys closer to Kansas than anyone else - just MHO.