Deep Purple specialise in quarrying out memorable hard rock songs that take a firm grip on the ears and soul of those who take the time to dig deeper. In the vanguard of creating the cultural impact of British based rock music that exploded with universal appeal, Deep Purple is still at the very top of their game.

They remain the pendulum for timeless rock classics by which most subsequent bands in the genre are judged: Smoke On The Water, Highway Star, Speed King the list goes on and on. And the personnel changes in the band has seen the shuffling of shoes entering, exiting and some re-entering the stage where the only original remaining member Ian Paice keeps steady and solid time swinging away behind his drum kit. With Mark II members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover alloyed by Don Airey, the only player who could have replaced the legendary Jon Lord, and the elite class talents of guitarist Steve Morse combining their rare talents, they have produced another enduring album of tight classics that will withstand the test of time.

Topical lyrics illustrating contemporary themes Man Alive(the human condition & migrant situation, possibly), Drop The Weapon(rising gun/knife crime), No Need To Shout (crazed politicians) rub up nicely with the more ancient ruminations of Throw My Bones and Gillan’s voice sounds great. They even re-invent And The Address the instrumental that originally opens 1968s Shades Of Deep Purple.

The magic that Ezrin has created in the studio, on this third band release he’s produced over the past 7 years, is reflected in the stellar instrumentation laid down on this album especially when Airey and Morse stretch out their skills set.

Having outlasted Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and so many more groups who emerged from the primordial gene pool of late 60s British Heavy Rock, Purple are still flying high on this magisterial final piece of the triptych release.

Deep Purple

Whoosh!

(earMUSIC)

9/10

 

About The Author

I began my career in journalism at the now defunct, pre-digital Smash Hits magazine, which was situated in London's Carnaby Street. After learning the ropes, I washed up at Vox Magazine, essentially the NME'S monthly magazine, as the Internet arrived into our lives. Thereon, I eventually graduated onto Q Magazine when people still treasured the magazine that they bought. My journalistic career since has been on newspapers at The Times, The Independent/i newspaper, Daily & Sunday Express and, ofcourse, National Rock Review.