For their 25th studio release, legendary British heavy rock institution Uriah Heep look to somehow follow-up their terrific 2018 album Living the Dream, and wouldn't you know it, the band once again hits the ball completely out of the park. Starting with 2008's Wake the Sleeper, this band have embraced the 2000s in a major way, releasing some of their strongest albums since the 1970s. Led by founding member & guitarist Mick Box, the rest of the line-up are longtime veterans of Heep at this point; vocalist Bernie Shaw, keyboard player Phil Lanzon, drummer Russell Gillbrook, and bassist Davey Rimmer. Together, they have produced another Uriah Heep album that contains all the elements of what had made this band so great from day one: hard hitting guitar riffs, screaming wah-wah solos, gargantuan Hammond organ, lean & muscular bass, strong lead vocals and rich backing vocals, nimble & powerful drumming, and songs that bridge the gap between hard rock, prog, psych, and metal.
As for the songs on Chaos & Colour, there's not a weak one to be found. You want the heavy stuff? Go right to "Save Me Tonight", "Silver Sunlight", "Hurricane", "Hail the Sunrise" (image of the classic "Gypsy" on this one), and "Fly Like an Eagle. How about the prog side of the band? Well, you won't be disappointed with the wealth of intricate Hammond organ and symphonic flair of "Age of Changes", "Golden Light", and the great messaging of "One Nation, One Sun". Those trademark Heep vocal harmonies are everywhere, the choruses are ultra memorable, and Bernie for his part is singing his ass off on this album, Just check him out battling Phil's heavy Hammond and Mick's snarling riffs on "Freedom to Be Free", another excellent track here that contains all the classic Heep elements, even some barnstorming lead bass lines from Rimmer, who is nice and high in the mix throughout the album and really makes his presence felt. Check out "Closer to Your Dreams", which is the second cousin to their biggest hit "Easy Livin'". Another aspect of this album that contributes to its success is that everyone pretty much has a hand in the writing, and it clearly shows a band that are all on the same page as to what Uriah Heep in 2023 needs to sound like.
I've been calling Living the Dream my favorite Uriah Heep album of the last 20 years pretty much since it came out, and everyone is asking me if Chaos & Colour has topped it in my eyes. It's probably too early to tell, but it's close...damn close. Do not miss this one, it's an early contender for album of 2023.
Track Listing
1. Save Me Tonight
2. Silver Sunlight
3. Hail the Sunrise
4. Age of Changes
5. Hurricane
6. One Nation, One Sun
7. Golden Light
8. You’ll Never Be Alone
9. Fly Like an Eagle
10. Freedom to Be Free
11. Closer to Your Dreams
12. Save Me Tonight (Demo)
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