Review URIAH HEEP ‘Chaos & Colour’

After more than 50 years in the music business, it’s not really necessary anymore to introduce Uriah Heep. Mick Box and his bandmates have released timeless hard rock classics with hits like ‘Lady in Black’ and ‘Easy Livin”, just to name the most famous ones.

Uriah Heep have just finished their ’50 Years Anniversary’ tour, which took them amongst others to the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. This journey through five decades of rock music was an impressive experience for both, band and fans. Already the large number of video greetings were impressive.

At the same time, Uriah Heep focused on new material, because after 50 years, it’s far from over for Mick Box and band colleagues. On the contrary. The band is experiencing a renewed sparkle in their career, consider the mentioned tour, but also their 25th studio album.

‘Chaos & Colour’ is the title of the new release, which once again shows why Uriah Heep have been a spearhead of classic rock since the 70s. Heaviness, melodies and a lot of soul, everything comes together on a Uriah Heep record and ‘Chaos & Colour’ is no exception.

The first song released as a single is ‘Save Me Tonight’. Written by bassist Dave Rimmer in collaboration with Jeff Scott Soto, the track fits perfectly at the beginning of this longplayer. Thematically, the song suits today’s times very well. It is frustration and hopelessness that complicate daily life and yet we are always driven by hope, including that we will all meet again. Musically, the opener is a typical Uriah Heep song, which combines all the trademarks. Box’s brilliant guitar solo, great vocal lines and warm resonating keyboard sounds make the heart of every classic rock fan beat faster.

The same goes for ‘Silver Sunlight’, a song you instantly appreciate. ‘Hail the Sunrise’ refers to the 70s roots of the band and the same goes for the epic ‘Freedom of the Free’. Multilayered, frisky and yet equipped with a lightness; the fascination for rock music is portrayed here.

Uriah Heep always had and still have a passion for calmer songs. One of these is ‘One Nation, One Sun’. Already the title tells it all while the music is rather calm and emotionally charged. Similar to this is the cinematic ‘You’ll Never be Alone’ which varies between rocking and slower moments.

It comes in handy that ‘Fly Like an Eagle’ is more to the point, which suits the flow of the album well. The album closes with the wildly galloping ‘Closer to Your Dreams’, a grande finale of a unique album.

Uriah Heep never really had weak moments in their career and managed to keep their love for rock music alive during all these decades. The band is living their passion also in 2023 and maybe ‘Chaos & Colour’ is their best album since the 70s. It is an awesome classic rock album for sure and a first highlight in the still quite new year of 2023.