Music review: Deep Purple – 鈥業nFinite鈥�
Deep Purple refuses to fade away.
The British rock icons unleash a rousing 10-track set that features a vintage sound found on earlier releases from the 鈥�70s such as 鈥淒eep Purple in Rock鈥� and the classic 鈥淢achine Head.鈥� 鈥淚nFinite鈥� is Deep Purple鈥檚 20th album and comes after the band鈥檚 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Deep Purple will always hold a special place in my heart. Like most kids aspiring to become rock stars in the early 鈥�70s, the very first song I learned how to play on my brother鈥檚 guitar was 鈥淪moke on the Water.鈥� I鈥檒l admit it is an easy song to learn, but it is also one heck of a great rock track packaged along with other classics like 鈥淪pace Truckin'鈥� and 鈥淗ighway Star.鈥� It seemed every cool kid in school owned a copy of 鈥淢achine Head鈥� as all prospective guitarists looked up to Ritchie Blackmore in complete awe.
While Deep Purple has gone through several lineup changes since forming in 1968, original drummer Ian Paice and longtime members Ian Gillan (lead vocals) and Roger Glover (bassist) carry on the band鈥檚 reputation for delivering gutsy rock tunes with heavy splashes of blues and progressive rock with assistance from keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Steve Morse.
After producing Deep Purple鈥檚 last release, Bob Ezrin is back for more and does a masterful job of getting the most out the veteran band that has sold 120 million albums worldwide and still counting.
鈥淭ime for Bedlam鈥� is the haunting album opener propelled by Gillan鈥檚 commanding vocals and Airey鈥檚 soaring keyboards giving the hard-hitting track an Emerson, Lake and Palmer and King Crimson aura.
鈥淗ip Boots鈥� follows and is reminiscent of early Led Zeppelin with a fiery, blues-and-rock feel that is once again fueled by Gillan鈥檚 inspired vocals and the guitar work of Morse.
鈥淎ll I Got Is You鈥� is the album鈥檚 top-notch lead single and showcases each musician鈥檚 skills as the track builds momentum until finally coming to a frantic close.
A soulful cover of the Doors鈥� 鈥淩oadhouse Blues鈥� brings the album to a bluesy ending, once again highlighted by Gillan鈥檚 engaging vocals and Airey鈥檚 passionate keyboards.
Deep Purple will make a Pittsburgh appearance on Sept. 1 with Alice Cooper. My tickets are already purchased, and my expectations are high as I prepare to see the band for the very first time. Rest assured, I鈥檒l be secretly playing air guitar when 鈥淪moke on the Water鈥� breaks out.