Thank Arioch that this has been re-released!
Erin D. Lindsey | Dallas, Tx United States | 08/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"And it's about time. As a longtime Michael Moorcock fan, I discovered Hawkwind through his involvement with it. For years I had the previous edition of this album on my wish list, despairing that I would ever be able to afford the $75-$125 prices that I was seeing for it. Well, no more! Not only that, but it's available for direct download through Amazon. For Moorcock and Hawkwind fans, it's everything we know and love from the Elric mythos, translated into sixteen awesome Hawkwind tracks. I'll probably go back and re-visit Michael Moorcock's Elric, Jerry Cornelius, and other Eternal Champion books for the umpteenth time after this...it's about time for that, too."
Elric + Moorcock + Cheesy 80's Metal + Cheesy Synths
Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 12/21/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"***************Personnel:
* Dave Brock - guitar, keyboards, vocals
* Huw Lloyd-Langton - guitar, vocals
* Harvey Bainbridge - keyboards, vocals
* Alan Davey - bass guitar, vocals
* Danny Thompson Jr. - drums
* Dave Charles - percussion
with
* Roger Neville-Neil (ghostwriter) - Lyrics
* Michael Moorcock - Inspiration, Lyrics on "Sleep of a Thousand Tears"
**************Technical Stuff:
This one has good productions values. The sound is clear and well mixed. I have two different masterings of this record, the 1992 Dojo version and the 2009 Atomhenge remaster. Both are good, but they are different. Neither has an loudness war issues, there are plenty of dynamics and clipping or mastering induced distortions. The Dojo version has better mids, they are clearer and more detailed. The 2009 has a fair amount more bass, the sound is somewhat deadened because of it. If you are a basshead though, you'll probably prefer the 09 version. Personally, I like to have great mids even if it means the bass is a little weak.
***************The Music
During the 3 year break, the band continued to be in turmoil with more than a few sackings and hiring. Brock finally settled on a new lineup that included Alan Davey as a writer and guitarist. Also, the lyrics for this record were ghostwritten by Roger Neville-Neil and Michael Moorcock contributed lyrics for one song. I wish they had hired a vocalist though.
The album's backbone is basic (cheesy) 80's popular metal interspersed with more ambient numbers. The subject matter (Moorcock's Elric fantasy hero) and use of spacey electronic effects help the album to stand out somewhat from other 80's metal. It is fun and the music is of sufficient quality to keep the listener's attention. It cannot compete with the Hawk's best 70's material though. The band is not cohesive, there are no jams, and there is nothing innovative.
So if you like good 80's metal with fun fantasy themed lyrics, this one will please you.
The bonus material on the Atomhenge release is good. It includes material from the ambitious "Earth Ritual" project."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
