URIAH HEEP – Raging Through The Silence [Japan 2-CD remastered reissue] *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

Cherry Red Records released a remastered version of URIAH HEEP‘s ‘Raging Through The Silence / The 20th Anniversary Concert‘, originally only available on VHS. This is the first CD release ever of this concert captured Live At The London Astoria 18th May 1989, celebrating Heep’s 2 decades as a band.
This is the Japanese edition, repackaged and released by BELLE ANTIQUE / Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ.
”Raging Through The Silence” features the band’s longest running line-up of Mick Box, Trevor Bolder, Bernie Shaw, Lee Kerslake, and the late Phil Lanzon.
This concert is likely to be the only gap in many committed fans’ collections and gives their core fanbase the opportunity to complete the entire Heep discography. This CD release is the culmination of a long process to make sure all of the Uriah Heep back catalogue is available in modern day formats and with proper sound quality. The set also includes a bonus audio interview, recorded on the same day as the concert, which was previously only available on picture disc LP for a very limited amount of time.
Released the same year as Raging Silence, the band’s first studio album with then new singer Bernie Shaw, this excellent show does a good job of highlighting what an underrated collection the band had just created, “Bad Bad Man”, “Blood Red Roses” and “Cry Freedom” every bit as potent and memorable as the material from the early years. With bassist Trevor Bolder, keyboard player Phil Lanzon and drummer Lee Kerslake all in tremendous form, those ‘classic era’ tracks also sound as fresh as the day they were recorded, “Stealin'”, “Gypsy” and “Easy Livin'” delivered with an enthusiasm that belies just how often the band must have performed them.

With the unmistakable “Look At Yourself” and “July Morning” just as urgent, it’s to Shaw’s great credit that his vocals not only keep pace, but in many places are actually the most eye catching feature – no wonder he’s gone on to become the band’s longest serving singer by many a year.
Although, there’s little doubt that the main man is guitarist and founder member Mick Box, who not only nails every one of the mighty riffs, but also provides a trademark solo slot in grand style.

Rounding out the set is an interview conducted by Chris Tetley, a DJ who used to have many of his interviews with bands released on 12″ picture disc back when the only real way to hear your musical heroes speak was on the radio. As these things tended to be, it’s hardly essential stuff, Box briefly covering the band’s different eras to that time, while Bolder and Shaw are, disappointingly, largely ignored by Tetley, the bassist and singer only really asked to detail how they joined the band.
All three however are good humoured and interesting, Box (and Shaw) especially engaging chaps with many a funny story to share. While there’s also a very brief archive piece of interview with the band’s original singer David Byron, where he explains why he left Uriah Heep, which Box pretty much agrees with.

Considering its age ”Raging Through The Silence” is an excellent show (with top notch audio) that shines a light on an era of Uriah Heep that’s often overlooked.
We’ve said this before, but there can be few, if any, other heavy rock outfits who’ve been just so consistently good over their time together. When you consider that period now spans nearly six decades, that they sounded so damn good after only 20, should be no surprise at all.
Highly Recommended

＜DISC 1＞
01 – Bad Bad Man
02 – Cry Freedom
03 – Stealin’
04 – Too Scared to Run
05 – The Other Side of Midnight
06 – More Fool You
07 – Blood Red Roses
08 – Mr Majestic
09 – The Wizard
10 – July Morning

＜DISC 2＞
01 – Gypsy
02 – Easy Livin’
03 – That’s The Way That It Is
04 – Look At Yourself
05 – The Uriah Heep Story (with Chris Tetley)

Bernie Shaw
Lee Kerslake
Mick Box
Phil Lanzon
Trevor Bolder

Out of print