"It's like a cross between SABBATH and THE BEATLES!!" Man, if I had a nickel for every time some musical ignoramus made that kinda statement....But of course, when I finally heard BANG's "Death of a Country" and "Bang" LPs, I was an immediate believer. Tracks like the "Future Shock" and "Questions" actually do blend the crunching riffage of early Iommi with those addictive melodies that call to mind "And Your Bird Can Sing". The first few BANG albums are sacred to me now, sandwiched majestically and alphabetically between ATOMIC ROOSTER and BUDGIE.

Now, reunion albums for bands like these almost always meet with varying opinions. The die-hard fans say "Any new stuff = good stuff", while the purists scream "Don't ruin my memories! No reunion albums!". I'm going to plant myself far away from both camps and that "The Maze" strikes me as a pure-fun, almost Saturday afternoon jam affair...like an informal get-together by the former band mates. Frank, Tony, and crew sound like a group of seasoned rockers, getting together to kick back and crank it up. The album is vibrant and the production crystal-clear. This isn't a stale-sounding DEEP PURPLE Mk II reunion album or some bastardized SKYNYRD affair. This is BANG, plugged in and giving us a pleasurable and lighthearted rawkin' platter. What's not to like?

The mature-yet-spontaneous sounds like the first lead in "Popcorn Dreams" or the beefy main riff in "413" remind me of better classic-band reunion albums like CRACK THE SKY's "From The Greenhouse" or JETHRO TULL's "Crest of a Knave". Haggard, raw 70s bark seems less prominent here than some acoustic guitars and seasoned songcraft. BANG has always had a good sense of humor, and on this album you can call it a sense of perspective. One spin of the closer "Redneck Riviera" and you'll know what I'm talking about. It sounds great to me to hear these guys cutting loose like this. Great riffs, good vibes...and a new version of "Bow To The King" that sounds even more like "Dear Prudence" than the original.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.bangmusic.com

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