An ideal example of this new synergy was provided by the opening track, "The Hanging Tree," which featured Lawton dramatically delivering a narrative about an outlaw on the run over a spooky musical track that blended echo-drenched synthesizers with some typically gutsy guitar riffs from Mick Box. Although he lacked the multi-octave range of David Byron, Lawton boasted an impressive and emotionally rich hard rock voice that instantly jelled with the Uriah Heep sound. They also boasted a new singer in John Lawton, a vocalist who had made his fame working with artsy German hard rockers Lucifer's Friend. However, the group bounced back in 1977 with Firefly, an album that pursued a stripped-down sound harking back to the group's early-'70s successes. This magnificent album is really something for us older "prog-heads" who grew up with heavy-rock as well, but also for the younger ones it's a quite nice example of the innovation and rapture of proggy heavy-rock of the early 70s.After losing founding vocalist David Byron in 1976, many hard rock fans thought Uriah Heep had reached the end of the line. Roger Dean’s illustration only adds to the impression of the album’s fantastical conceptuality. All My Life is a short yet rather good rocker.ĭemons and Wizards is, without a doubt, among the three best records of the band of the time with David Byron as singer (with Look at Yourself, and The Magician's Birthday or Salisbury).Īlthough not an "officially" concept-album, it is based on fantasy themes derived from Tolkien and tales of dungeons and dragons. The sluggish piece is apt for David Byron's extraordinary voice. Rainbow Demon is a keyboard-heavy rocker that is reminiscent of Deep Purple in parts. Admittedly their playing was never as spectacular as something like Jon Lord or Ritchie Blackmore's or Jimmy Page, but if you take the trouble to listen carefully to the Uriah Heep albums of the years 1970-1975, you will realize what exceptionally good ones musicians both are, as well as that Uriah Heep as a band was in the same heavy-rock league with Deep Purple and actually manifested more original approach than Led Zeppelin ever did, although Uriah Heep was underrated by the then rock-critics, especially in their native England. Just as underrated as David Byron were Ken Hensley and Mick Box. In his heyday he could easily keep up with Ian Gillan or Robert Plant. In the melodic vocal passages, David Byron can impressively demonstrate his extraordinary voice and shows that he was one of the best rock singers of his time, who unfortunately never received the recognition he deserved. The song is determined by Ken Hensley's extraordinary organ playing and a driving rhythm in the instrumental passages. Then comes Circle of Hands, one of Uriah Heep's best songs but also one of the best tracks ever recorded in the heavy-rock genre.
Poet's Justice is a solid heavy-rocker defined by driving keyboards and distorted guitar solos.
With its mysterious touch, Easy Livin' is a very Uriah Heep song, with beautiful vocals and choruses melded with aggressive keyboards and guitars, a little masterpiece that I've always wished it lasted longer. Easy Livin' went on to become one of their most popular tracks back then, at least in Europe. Traveller in Time is a fantasy-themed song built on Mick Box' awesome wah-wah guitar riffs. The Wizard is carried by Ken Hensley's flowing organ, it has a twitching rhythm section and great chords on the lead guitar that's fully functional Uriah Heep that combines gothic, metal, and progressive sounds. Starting with Mick Box's wonderful rhythmic acoustic guitar, The Wizard is an exciting kick-off, allowing the blood to circulate and the energy to remain constant throughout this amazing record. In the early 70's, Uriah Heep primarily stood for a sophisticated heavy-rock with elaborated "progressive" elements certainly they had an unusually creative output in a very short time period.ĭemons and Wizards contains a good handful of Uriah Heep's essential classics indeed, it is very varied, but still a quintessentially Uriah Heep record. Uriah Heep are without a doubt one of those bands that I can listen to anytime, anytime, and they still give me as much today as they did in the past, so their impact on me has never diminished. Demons and Wizards can rightly be considered one of the best and most substantial heavy-rock albums of all time.
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