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Rating: Once upon a time, there was a band that, starting in the shadows of monumental figures like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin, had the audacity to challenge England and the world by offering hard rock at a time when it was thriving. A band led by a charismatic and introverted leader like Mick Box, alongside the creativity of Ken Hensley. A time when albums like "Salisbury," "Look at Yourself," "Demons & Wizards," and "The Magician's Birthday" had even critics reconsidering, who had done nothing but tear them down since their debut. With "Sweet Freedom," the first small signs of a decline were evident, gradually leading them to a compositional level less convincing than their initial works. The arrival of John Lawton on vocals, following the departure of the legendary David Byron, had partly lifted spirits and sales thanks to an excellent hard rock album like "Firefly." The years with Lawton were characterized by a desire to return to a certain level. This desire was promptly thwarted by the departure of the latter, replaced by the singer John Sloman, who was also gifted with an excellent vocal range and called upon not to make us long for two sacred monsters like Byron and Lawton. Another severe blow for the band was the departure of drummer Lee Kerslake, who was replaced by Chris Slade.
In the wake of these destabilizing events for the group and the growing acrimony between the two leaders Hensley and Box, the thirteenth studio album of Uriah Heep was born: "Conquest." This work follows the lightening of the sound that had begun with "Wonderworld" (1974) and then further accentuated with "Innocent Victim" (1977). Indeed, right from the initial "No Return", we sense a band uncertain about how to proceed in their career: Should they continue on the hard rock path that marked their beginnings, or shift towards a pop-leaning solution to garner new fans? This is one of the main questions the band of Charles Dickens asked to clearly define a situation that had become quite complex in recent years. It is worth noting that, despite the not-so-clear context in which the album was born, "Conquest" is not an album to discard. The second song, "Imagination", confirms this, thanks to an excellent performance by Sloman on the microphone and an atmosphere teetering between hard rock and futuristic, misty scenarios that bring to mind some ballads from the early period. Songs like "Feelings" and "Fools" confirm Conquest's good style, although the compositional and qualitative gap compared to the albums mentioned above is evident.
For all those who expected a return to the more rock-oriented past from the new line-up, disappointment soon replaced curiosity. That said, "Out on the Street" is one of the best songs of Uriah Heep's "new period," thanks to its slow arpeggio, the decadent atmosphere, and the excellent vocal performance of John Sloman. A song in full prog rock style, which features reminiscences of a certain type of psychedelic rock that had always had its origins in England (see King Crimson).
Therefore, there's no point in analyzing why "Conquest" received criticisms. Some of the then "music experts" had launched a "regardless" crusade against Uriah Heep. "Conquest" is certainly not the masterpiece of their discography nor a record that will remain in history, but nonetheless, for all those who care about this band and rock, it is an episode that deserves to be listened to, even though it lacks the fundamental characteristics of the initial works. A piece, a fragment of their glorious career.
1. "No Return" (6:07)
2. "Imagination" (5:49)
3. "Feelings" (5:26)
4. "Fools" (5:02)
5. "Carry On" (3:57)
6. "Won't Have To Wait Too Long" (4:54)
7. "Out On The Street" (5:57)
8. "It Ain't Easy" (5:45)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Imagination (05:48)
Sometimes I'm certain
Sometimes my mind is
Filled with doubt
Some thoughts lay heavy here
Sometimes I think it's figured out
Imagination
Endless voyage of discovery
I'm at once impatient and afraid
Some day you may walk out on me
At least when you're with me
I'm not afraid to live with mystery
I'm sure you know how sad
One night without a dream can be
Imagination, bitter-sweet companion
As my time flies by
Love-hate relation
Hand in hand toward infinity
Lead me here, lead me there
Everywhere if you really dare
Today, tonight, tomorrow
You don't have to take my hand
I'll take it just the way it's planned
Lead on, speed on, I'll follow
When you see me coming
You're gonna know I'm not alone
Me and my imagination
We'll be side by side any way
The wind is blown
Love songs and fantasies
They've kept us busy
Since the day we met
Each new horizon
Reminds us now it's not over yet
03 Feelings (05:24)
Feelings, empty feelings
Prayin', hopin', needin'
Just when I wanted to hold you
You're leavin', you're leavin'
Leavin', you're leavin'
I remember those magic nights
Those nights when it
All seemed right
But I knew that by mornin'
You'd be gone
And though you tell me
That it's not for long
It ain't easy here holdin' on
You gotta tell me where I stand
'cause either you don't give a damn
Or you don't even care to pretend
Or you won't spare a thought
Though you know
It must come to an end
You'd better know that
I've made up my mind
I gotta high of a different kind
And it's gonna take me
Where I wanna be
Sure I'll miss ya but I gotta choose
You can't believe that
I came here to lose
And you ain't a winner
That's easy to see
So I'll see you around or I'll write
And I'll send you some love
'cause where I wanna go
There ain't nothing to do but move
04 Fools (05:02)
I know this feeling inside
Has just made up my mind
I'm gonna take this chance
And do what's in my heart
You always said that
You'd stand by me
And help me get along
So understand
I must do what's in my heart
I know this feeling inside
Has helped me to carry on
So as the days go by
And the nights that never end
You play the clubs
And you play the game
The next day you will find
You'll have to try and
Please that fool again
Don't you know that
Fools play at games
Don't you know that
Fools play at games
And I know that
I'm not afraid of you
Day after day I feel this way
That I need to be moving on
You know I depend on you
Don't get me wrong
I'll throw the dice and
I play the game
And hope we get along
Even then I won't be fooled again
So I've read your words and
I've signed my name
But I can't make up my mind
If you really care or you're
Playing your games
05 Carry On (03:58)
Carry on ...
So what can I do, what can I say
Do I have to stand and
Watch you walk away
I know there's got to be
A better way
I just can't go on living for today
I thought I heard a voice
Out on the wind
And I'm sure I heard it say
I'd find a friend
And it said I'd find
The answers in the end
All I gotta do is carry on
Carry on, carry on, the time is flyin'
You need another love
Maybe another town
Carry on, carry on
Don't wait until your hope is gone
When your last chance
Comes round
I'm gonna keep on looking
I won't quit
Aggravation
It ain't gonna hurt a bit
And I believe that
I have seen the last of it
There's nothing left to do
But carry on
07 Out on the Street (05:54)
Out on the street, dead on my feet
At the mercy of the stone-cold night
It's hard to compete
In a dead-end street
With frustration in your line of sight
Do you ever stop to think
Do you ever stop at all
Do you have the time to feel
And if you do
Do you know the feeling's real
Followed a sign that
Pointed the way
And I found myself
Right back at that start
I like to feel good
I've tried feeling sad
But I can't stand a broken heart
Don't wanna wait till my dyin' day
To realise
I guess I'm lucky in
A strange kinda way
'cause it's clear before my eyes
A grey cloud they say
Hides a surprise
But it rained until I lost my belief
Just close your eyes
We'll show you the way
But I believe I've lost my faith
One man speaks and one man does
While another soul wields the sword
I hear you all, but I still can't see
Just who it is
Who speaks the chosen word
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