Music Banter - The Album Club: "Abominog" by Uriah Heep

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- - The Album Club: "Abominog" by Uriah Heep (https://www.musicbanter.com/general-music/92116-album-club-abominog-uriah-heep.html)

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Originally Posted by Neapolitan (Post 1975716)

Too Scared To Run sounds like they copied the opening riff to School's Out, but doubling the notes, something like a variation of the riff.

Not a guitarist so I couldn't comment on this, but I know that song and to me they're nothing alike.

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Chasing Shadows - Kansas' song with the same title could possibly be better.

Not a big fan of Kansas (the band or the state) so I can't comment, but they're two of my favourite songs on the album, and most people seem to agree.

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The intro to Running All Night (With The Lion) sound like a kid trying to learn to the riff to Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple for the first time.

Yeah, got to give you this one. :laughing:

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Think It Over sounds like Foriegner.

They'd all be foreigners to you, as they're English.

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SOB - sounds like they were trying to rewrite Hair of the Dog.

Dunno either song. My original vinyl copy doesn't have that track on it.

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I always wanted to hear what Uriah Heep was all about, but haven't till now. So I was going with an open mind, willing to like it. However judging the cover it would be something that I would have passed. I really dislike the album cover art. It's horrible looking compared to what Roger Dean can do with his fantasy art. All in all, I didn't what to expect, but it wasn't as bad after a few attempts trying to get into it.

It's an awesome cover. I may have bought it just for that. :)

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Despite its foibles and cheesy moments it was tolerable, and sometimes fun. OK this is not exactly what I listen to, but I like a variety of music, and for me this has its place.

I don't think this sounds like mainstream Heavy Metal. They seem like a band who didn't break into mainstream radio imo. Maybe they had radio success back in the 80s, I really don't know. But Uriah Heep isn't one of those typical bands that Classic Rock radio constantly play e.g. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who aka Chula bands. (You know what I am talking about.)

No you're right. I don't think UH had any hit singles, and most people know of them, but have not heard any of their songs. They're one of those bands who straddle several genres, and never seem to be quite comfortable in one or the other.

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To me they were more like Foreigner meets Judas Priest.

Foreign Priest? Nah.

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I took time to look up info on the album up and what I suspected was confirmed and the album was described as AOR meets Heavy Metal. One more thing I like to stress is that I found the guitar playing pretty good on some songs.

I would say it is more likable, than really liked/loved it.
4/5 since it doesn't deserve a meh 3/5.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1975721)

Dunno either song. My original vinyl copy doesn't have that track on it.

It's on either Spotify and YouTube.

Uriah Heep

Maybe you heard of the song, but not know the title?

Nazareth - Hair of the Dog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1975721)

I don't know about the UK but Easy Living got airplay on Top 40 radio and peaked at 39 on Billboard.

For those who are curious- From Demons and Wizards (1972)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan (Post 1975897)

It's on either Spotify and YouTube.

Uriah Heep

Maybe you heard of the song, but not know the title?

Nazareth - Hair of the Dog

Yeah I know I could look for it. I just always tend to only listen to the tracks that were on the original album, and that wasn't. Yes I know that song now, or at least I know of it, but I really couldn't name a Nazareth song tbh so still no real opinion or interest. You're probably right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul (Post 1976007)

I don't know about the UK but Easy Living got airplay on Top 40 radio and peaked at 39 on Billboard.

For those who are curious- From Demons and Wizards (1972)

Likely, sure, but what I mean is you don't turn to someone who asks you who Uriah Heep are and say "oh that song" and they go oh yeah. They had no shall we say, major hit singles that anyone outside their fanbase would know, afaik.

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Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1976286)

I'm not really a Heep fan, at least not in the classic sense and even without hearing their albums, I was familiar with Easy Livin and Sweet Lorriane

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Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1976286)

I really couldn't name a Nazareth song tbh so still no real opinion or interest.

WHATi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriphiel (Post 1976564)

WHATi

You heard me.
And what's with the lack of question marks? You boycotting them? Did one run over your kitten, or steal your signed photo of Jeff Lynne?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1976660)

You heard me.
And what's with the lack of question marks? You boycotting them? Did one run over your kitten, or steal your signed photo of Jeff Lynne?

http://www.ftmusic.com/facethemusic/face01.jpg

Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? At the time not with the artist, but since, yes. So listening to it now, I know a reasonable amount of Uriah Heep music.
Expectations (if any): n/a
Initial impression: n/a
Favourite track(s): “Too Scared to Run”, “Chasing Shadows”, “On the Rebound”, “Prisoner”, “Hot Persuasion”, “Think it Over”, “That's the Way That it Is”, “Sell Your Soul”
Least favourite track(s): “Running All Night (With the Lion)”, “Hot Night In a Cold Town”
Overall impression: Great pop metal/AOR album. Love it.
Chances of listening to further material from this artist? One hundred percent
Rating (not mandatory): 9/10
Comments: When I first bought this album (and no idea why I did) I thought it was going to be a hard-hitting heavy metal idea, which is not that surprising, looking at the cover, and the opening song fires a salvo that does nothing initially to dispel that impression. But it quickly settles down into more of a hard rock/AOR groove, and while some of the songs are not as good as the first three, it closes well and there's nothing on it that I don't like. Not, to be fair, a gateway album into Uriah Heep (I later bought their Best Of and got a better idea of what they were like) but a fun album, and if it gets you to check out the band, that's a plus.

Now do a full discog review of Nazareth