The Album Club: "Abominog" by Uriah Heep

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yeah, Return to Fantasy and Look at Yourself are must-listens too.

Good copy

[Anteater]

First of all: how can anyone dislike that cover? So awesome.

This was the point where Uriah Heep fully transitioned into AOR, a stylistic approach they would embrace up until the mid 90's. Like a lot of the prog stalwarts who made the transition the end result is a mixed bag, but there's some great stuff here with the synth-laden 'Chasing Shadows' and the memorable 'That's The Way That It Is' standing out in particular.

There are better examples of AOR throughout the 80's I'd probably do an AOR thread around rather than Abominog, but it's still fun nevertheless.

7 out of 10

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by rubber soul

Listen to their seventies material, Hawk, especially The Magician's Birthday. You'll gain a bigger appreciation of them, I think.

Demons and Wizards too.

[Neapolitan]

Is the album title a portmanteau of Abominal Snowman & egg nog?

[rubber soul]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Demons and Wizards too.

That's the other album I was trying to think of. Yeah, that and Look at Yourself are also awesome albums.

[Psy-Fi]

I just couldn't get into this one at all. It sounded to me like typical mainstream, commercial, radio-friendly 80's metal (something I dislike to begin with) and I didn't hear anything on the album that stood out or made me want to listen to it again. The cover of "Tin Soldier" by the Small Faces was awful.
The cover art is easily the best feature of the album.

3/10

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Demons and Wizards too.

Listened to this last night

I’ve been missing out!

[Neapolitan]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Demons and Wizards too.

Wizzard Brew >>>>> Abominog

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

Is the album title a portmanteau of Abominal Snowman & egg nog?

I think it may in fact be a portmanteau of Abominable and Balrog.

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Listened to this last night

I’ve been missing out!

Damn straight. Now go listen to Return to Fantasy.

[Neapolitan]

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.

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

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.

Think It Over sounds like Foriegner.

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

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.

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.)

To me they were more like Foreigner meets Judas Priest. 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.