Music review: Whitesnake – 鈥楾he Purple Album鈥�
The latest release from Whitesnake runs deep.
Deep as in Deep Purple. English rocker David Coverdale pays tribute to the band that gave him his first big break in the rock business over 40 years ago by revisiting classic Deep Purple tracks from the three albums the charismatic singer appeared on after replacing Ian Gillan.
When Deep Purple disbanded in 1976, Coverdale went on to launch a brief solo career before forming Whitesnake in 1978. After a possible reunion between former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and Coverdale abruptly fell apart, Coverdale decided to pay homage to his old band with his current group with the release of 鈥淭he Purple Album.鈥�
As a proud owner of the entire Deep Purple discography, I was both excited and slightly skeptical about Whitesnake鈥檚 bold undertaking. Could Coverdale and his band (guitarists Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra, bassist Michael Devin and drummer Tommy Aldridge) match the energy and intensity of the original recordings?
Any doubt is quickly erased moments into the opening track as Coverdale flexes his vocal muscles on a scorching version of 鈥淏urn,鈥� while Beach and Hoekstra unleash one of my favorite Deep Purple guitar riffs from Blackmore. The 63-year-old Coverdale is still in fine voice as he growls out spirited versions of 鈥淟ove Child,鈥� 鈥淟ady Double Dealer鈥� and 鈥淢ight Just Take Your Life.鈥�
The album comes to a sizzling close with the band cutting loose on an all-out aural assault during 鈥淪tormbringer.鈥� Fans of both Deep Purple and Whitesnake will be pleased with the fresh infusion of energy to these arena-rock arrangements orchestrated by Coverdale.
Whitesnake will rock The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on July 20. Hopefully, some of these Deep Purple favorites will make the setlist that evening.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.