Atomic Rooster - ATOMIC ROOSTER***

Friday The Thirteenth/And So To Bed/Broken Wings/Before Tomorrow/Banstead/SLY/Winter/Decline & Fall

Self titled debut album from the British rock group Atomic Rooster, created by former members of Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Drummer Carl Palmer would shortly jump ship again to found Emerson Lake & Palmer. (UK:49)

“Albums like this are what make the late 60s/early 70s my favourite era for music. Recommended for fans of classic rock.”

“Atomic Rooster's first album is a pretty solid package. Some of the songs are brilliant but on the other hand there are others that aren't that special.”

“A very good debut, which would have been of better quality, if not for some filler. Although Vincent Crane's keyboards stand out, the band's music cannot really be tagged as progressive but it is very close. Carl Palmer gives an exceptional performance, and one must really check out his drum solo on the closing track Decline & Fall.”

“Atomic Rooster play a brand of Jethro Tull style progressive rock, with just a touch of King Crimson heaviness. It's quite impressive how the band manage to be heavy despite the fact that the guitar doesn't get much of a work out, at least not as much as the Hammond organ, or other various instruments.”

“Although dark, heavy and thunderous the Rooster sound is soaked in a soulful feel and exquisite sophistication. Crane has many tricks up his sleeve to temper his organ maelstroms, or crisscrossed piano with organ swells and a rhythmical frenzy, with Palmer’s pagan and virtuoso drumming.”

“The tracks range all the way from organ driven hard rock to slow building symphonic prog, and even some straightforward blues-rock. Vincent Crane's virtuoso keyboards are fantastic, as is the drumming of Carl Palmer.”

“Friday The 13th is a dramatic and exciting opener, but after that the songs all tend to blend together and lose identity. Graham's vocals are simply not up to belting out the material, and are something of a weak point on the album.”

“A modest debut effort from a band that would do far better on their next two releases. What doesn't work are Crane's vocals and the almost complete absence of guitar.”