A four song thirty minute disc that I'd put straight into the mix for my personal top ten of 2007 new releases if it weren't for a couple of significant reasons. Firstly and most notably is the fact that the tracks on here are re-recordings of a 2001 release by PALACE IN THUNDERLAND that even bore the same title. Secondly, and actually something that draws me to the disc more is the fact that it sounds about 35 years old! This could quite easily be a discovery of a slab of early 70's underground rock music but then if it were then the rest of this review wouldn't work.

You see, the first thing that bursts out of the speakers on "Heir To The King Of Everything" is a riff straight out of the book of music according to THIN LIZZY and they didn't hit on this sound till about '74/'75. That splash of Gorham/Robertson trademark twin guitar sound returns a few times throughout this release and clearly LIZZY have had some influence on a band that otherwise for the best part sound like MONSTER MAGNET infused with the psychedelic and space rock leanings of the mighty HAWKWIND.

Those elements are perhaps best displayed on the title track "Into The Maelstrom" where five minutes of doom laden backing are cracked apart with some lovely clean lead guitar and a clear and legibly delivered vocal. In fact the only disappointing moment on this disc is the final couple of minutes on the otherwise memorable "Sonic Throne". As a fully paid up member of the campaign to rid the world of the drum solo I can't let a recorded and released example go by without some admonishment.

Aside from this moment of madness though all four tracks quickly make themselves familiar and they each possess a depth and quality that provides new highlights and finds with each repeated listen. Quite why they've gone back and chosen to rehash an old project is something to do with a failed reissue plan last year, but I'd like to think it's also a belief that these recordings deserve attention and could be improved by revisiting them rather than a lack of new material that drives this release. Of course only time will tell whether they have the substance to follow this up. And to think that with a track called "Bastard Of Puppets" closing the set I initially thought I'd got an album of METALLICA spoof recordings to deal with!

- Leslie

OFFICIAL SITE: www.palaceinthunderland.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Heir to Everything

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