Warhorse [Import]

Warhorse | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Angel Air
• ASIN: B00000JAA0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,861 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of the debut album by this heavy prog rock outfit formed by Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper. Features all seven of the cuts that graced it when Vertigo first releasedthe record in 1970, plus five bonus tracks, 'Miss Jane' (Demo) & live versions of 'Ritual', 'Solitude', 'Woman Of The Devil' & 'Burning'. 12 tracks total. 1999 Angel Air Records release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hard-rocking debut, from a great, but short lived band., April 15, 1999

By 

Metaljim "Jim C." (Kansas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warhorse (Audio CD)

When bassist Nick Simper was unceremoniously fired from Deep Purple in the summer 1969, he wasted little time in getting back on his feet. After a brief stint with the Marsha Hunt band, he formed Warhorse, along with ex-Hunt bandmates Mac Poole and Ged Peck. Musically similiar to early Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, Warhorse achieved a degree of success in Europe, but sadly, never got their LP's released in the States. With Simper's aggressive bass lines,the screaming lead work of Ged Peck, the swirling Hammond organ of Frank Wilson (who incidentally, replaced their original keyboardist, future Yes man Rick Wakeman), Mac Poole's drumming and vocalist Ashley Holt, they forged a style that was heavy, progressive, and fresh. It's unfortunate they didn't get the exposure they deserved, as the band was very good. Warhorse lasted long enought to release a second album "Red Sea" in 1972, but folded shortly after.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Warhorse Wagon, September 3, 2006

By 

P.S. "tsubame" (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warhorse (Audio CD)

The liner notes credit Warhorse with talent and innovation, saying they were among the Heavy Rock bands of the early seventies and worthy of some credit. When the first album was released under the Vertigo label, the band found themselves being compared to Black Sabbath, also on Vertigo. Heavy guitar aside, however, Warhorse sound nothing like Black Sabbath. As the notes point out, Warhorse had a Hammond organ. In fact, if you want comparisons to contemporary heavy bands of the early seventies I would say look no further than Uriah Heep. There are several instances on this album the Warhorse sound very similar to the Heep, and during one track I couldn't help but think of Vanilla Fudge's album "Renaissance".

Two main differences, however, would be guitarist Ged Peck's playing style, which sounds very much as though he graduated from the Ritchie Blackmore School Of Guitar. The resemblance to Blackmore's style and sound is notable on at least three tracks, especially on "Ritual", which has a guitar solo and rhythm quite similar to Deep Purple's "Wring That Neck" (almost a direct rip-off in one part). It should come as no surprise then to find DP's original bass player, Nick Simper, as the leader of the Warhorse group. Perhaps he just had to have a Blackmore-esque guitarist along with a Hammond organ. The other distinguishable sound of Warhorse is the vocal effort of Ashley Holt. A guy who can scream out notes when he wants to, Ashley Holt has a distinct voice, though not always in a favourable way. On "No Chance" he sounds more like he's half reading, half singing in a bored tone. The lyrics sound equally boring. Ashley Holt generally does not have an exciting voice in my opinion, though when he gets going, as in "St. Louise", he can let it rip.

The album starts off a bit slow, meaning it doesn't seem to do anything exciting or interesting until the third track, "Burning", and then does alright for the next three tracks. My personal favourite is the final track "Woman of the Devil", which actually does sound a little like Sabbath near the beginning. The liner notes suggest the band's lack of success can be blamed on poor timing with record deals and internal problems but to me they just don't sound as exciting as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple or Uriah Heep.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warhorse in their debut glory, March 7, 2005

By 

Robert Cossaboon "devil doll" (The happy land of Walworth, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warhorse (Audio CD)

Here is Warhorse-if you like Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, then put this CD on, turn up the volume and jam on it! Apparently formed around the bassist and the early vocalist of Deep Purple, there are definite parallels to that band, but really they more closely mirror Uriah Heep. This is not to say they are a cheap knock-off of that band or that Ashley Holt's vocals (thought almost dead on for Deep Purple or the Heep again) are without power of their own. Stylistically the album is saturated with towering, cathedral-like keyboards, but there is also opportunity for soloing on guitarist Ged Peck's part-although he tends to favor the rhythmic power-chord approach while the main solos are given over to Frank Wilson, the keyboardist. The power tracks are the heavy, funky "Vulture", "Burning" (a great Peck solo on this), the primal scream of "Ritual", and "Woman of the Devil". The less-heavy, more interesting tracks are "No Chance", a great ballad of sorts; the awesome "St. Louis", a rock-out that echoes Steve Miller (think "Living in the USA"); but for me the best track is slow-burn of "Solitude" where everything good about Warhorse gelled into one gloriously haunting track (Holt is especially outstanding here) that will stay with you long after you shelve this CD for something else to listen to. The bonus tracks are great additions. I can't say that the live versions give you an idea of the power they evoked on stage; for the most part they sound exactly like the (usually superior) studio versions. "Miss Jane" is interesting because it signals the less heavier approach they were to take on their disappointing follow-up, "Red Sea". The live version of "Solitude" is shorter and almost rushed. Peck's guitar solo is still great, however. "Woman of the Devil" is the only song that seems to improve on itself; Poole's drumming is particularly ferocious here. At the end of the day, Warhorse is what it is: a long over-looked timepiece of early seventies hard progressive rock that deserves a visit every now and then-preferably more now than then.