Rosenfeld, Avi: Very Heepy Very Purple XI

There'll be no beating around the bush here. Avi Rosenfeld is back with another release in his Very Heepy Very Purple series - and it's already the eleventh one! You probably know what to expect from the title, and in my opinion this album scratches the itch for the classic guitar and organ-driven hard rock sound. "You Are So Lazy", "Help Me", and "El Matador" are all love letters to the mighty DP. I could definitely see Ian Gillan singing some of these great, fast-paced songs. Avi's guitar work only adds to that classic Blackmore-era Purple sound. Ivan Giannini's vocals in "Secret Bloom Blinding" heavily remind me of David Byron. The song is magnificent and triumphant - it wouldn't feel out of place on an album like Demons and Wizards. "Marching to Their Fate" is another Uriah Heep-inspired piece. The backing vocals, especially before the great guitar solo bring "Sunrise" to my mind. The final minute is unnecessary with all the screaming (imagine how great the track would be if it ended after the solo), but it's still a very good song. My favourite moment on the album was "I Know That You're Sorry". It's the most Purple-esque melody on the album, and it is nothing short of incredible. This track alone puts DP's latest "effort" to shame.

It's not all great, though. The last minute of "Messenger of War" is excruciating, with the constant "ha-ha" making my blood boil. "She's a Speed Demon" has a kickass opening from Masum Ul Islam, but in the rest of the song his vocals sound very forced. Too bad, because the guitar work is very tasteful. "Lifeboat" suffers from the same problem. I think it would benefit Avi Rosenfeld's music if he just picked a few singers that had the best performances on the previous albums, and get them to sing more than one song.

This album is not incredible, but it's still an effort worth checking out. For those who lament the death of the classic rock sound, Very Heepy Very Purple XI will be a salvation. Even with some slip-ups here and there, this album is a very fun love letter to the 70s.

Track listing:
1. You Are So Lazy
2. Secret Bloom Blinding
3. She's a Speed Demon
4. Battle Shock
5. Help Me
6. I Know That You're Sorry
7. Messenger of War
8. Lifeboat
9. El Matador
10. Marching to Their Fate

Added: December 10th 2020
Reviewer: Maciej Slowik
Score:
Related Link: Artists @ Bandcamp
Hits: 563
Language: english

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