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Because the sleeve notes to this reissue of Atomic Rooster’s 1980 comeback album level out, they’ve at all times been a troublesome band to categorise. Rising from the ashes of The Loopy World Of Arthur Brown, they began life as a post-psych/proto-prog energy trio dominated by the late Vincent Crane’s virtuoso Hammond taking part in, pivoted in the direction of gloomy arduous rock on the great Demise Walks Behind You, then ended up caught down a blues-soul blind alley.
However once they reformed in 1980, simply in time for the New Wave Of British Heavy Metallic, their sound had grow to be distinctly metallic – singer/guitarist John Du Cann was now the primary author and his songs have been fuelled by a cartoonish punky power. Thus, Atomic Rooster makes for a tuneful, satisfying, if not precisely difficult album.
Opener They Took Management Of You units the tone: a quick, manic romp that’s a whole lot of headbanging enjoyable. Crane nonetheless leans on his trusty Hammond, however Du Cann’s taking part in is spiky and aggressive, whereas his voice has reworked into an indignant snarl.
She’s My Lady is a vicious however thrilling tackle the Bo Diddley college of pub rock, whereas He Did It Once more nearly nails a contemporary AOR vibe, although the organ sound dates it. The sinister In The Shadows is likely one of the extra attention-grabbing tracks, a bluesy slow-burn that includes each synth and horror-show keys.
Watch Out! is a hi-energy instrumental that’s a good showcase for each Crane’s and Du Cann’s chops. Closing ballad Misplaced In House might be essentially the most prog-esque track right here, with an efficient key change within the refrain.
There’s a wide variety of bonus tracks, together with the jerky, punchy groove of single B-side Throw Your Life Away, plus demo variations of the marginally extra subtle singles the band would go on to file for Polydor – Finish Of The Day and Play It Once more.
There’s additionally a second CD containing a bootleg-quality dwell set recorded on the Marquee in November 1980 – that includes the return of Demise Walks Behind You drummer Paul Hammond, it attracts closely from that album.
Atomic Rooster is on sale now by way of Esoteric Recordings.