After Colosseum breaking up 1971 the members spread in different directions - Dick Heckstall-Smith went solo, Chris Farlowe joined Atomic Rooster, Clem Clemson joined Humble Pie and Dave Greenslade started the group "Greenslade" with Tony Reeves. John Hiseman and Mark Clarke stayed together as a rythm section and founded Tempest together with Alan Holdsworth and Paul Williams. After the first album Holdsworth and Williams left and this second and last by the group was completed by a trio, consisting of Hiseman, Clarke and new guitarist Ollie Halsall. I'm a big fan of Colosseum and about everything they did - a magic mix of good songs, progressive thinking and top notch performance, built on a solid melodic jazz foundation. This is a hard rock album made a few years later, but you can hear echoes from the past - well written songs that hits your heart, combined with odd harmonies and rythmic gaming. As hard rock it's outstanding, sometimes reminding of early Uriah Heep or Led Zeppelin, but more complex with a unique identity. Many of the songs have become favorites, like "Stargazer" and "Funeral Empire". I also love the "Paperback Writer" cover - faithful to the original, but faster and heavier with lots of howling guitars. Produced by Gary Bron with big and clear audio. Not issued in USA before the 1999 CD (Castle Music CMACD 516). First UK had label as shown here, thick vinyl and matt die-cut cover with glossy picture/credit inner. (CÖL*)(PRÖZ*)
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