Cleorecs is reissuing UFO’s album “Seven Deadly” in a Deluxe Edition featuring bonus tracks, including previously unreleased.
This is UFO 21st studio release, and the fourth effort of the 2004 incarnation of the band including Vinnie Moore on guitar, and while the previous album was a tad too bluesy, with “Seven Deadly” they returned to UFO’s classy Hard Rock style.
“Seven Deadly (Deluxe Edition)” really rocks, and proves that forty-plus years after UFO first took flight, these guys can still bring the goods. Phil Mogg never was an extraordinary shouter, but his unmistakable voice and style are UFO’s trademark. Another reason to enjoy this album, as usual, are Mogg’s lyrics. He is fundamentally, a storyteller, able to use colorful metaphors to intrigue.
Meanwhile, the awesome Moore displays a great feel for what the songs need, injecting a vital rockin’ groove to the music, giving to this version of the band its own identity.
“Seven Deadly” hits the ground running with the classic-sounding riff of “Fight Night”, and between Moore’s licks and Phil Mogg’s perfectly weathered voice, that track and the subsequent “Wonderland” serve up a pair of the hard-rocking tunes that put this band on the radar back in the day.
“Mojo Town” slows things down, but is actually one of the richest pieces of music on the entire album. Driven by a great groove, Mogg and Moore are at their best, while the rhythm section sounds delightfully heavy. Vinnie’s guitar on this thack is crunchy and melodic at the same time.
Ballads have been a UFO strong suit over the years, and “Angel Station” continues that tradition. This moody tune stands as the album’s emotive centerpiece. Mogg’s world-weary edge perfectly suits the song’s theme of loss and acceptance, rounded by a soulful guitar solo.
“Year Of The Gun” is a gritty hard rocker with a catchy chorus and some nice organ from Paul Raymond, while “The Last Stone Rider” rocks again with a bluesy touch, featuring some hooky riffs sitting underneath another catchy chorus.
“Steal Yourself” reminds of Paul Chapman-era UFO from the early ’80s mixed with some Bad Company, whilst Phil creates some very cool imagery on “The Fear”, a rocker with some nasty riffs from Moore.
“Burn Your House Down” serve great musicianship and a beautiful-sounding lead from Vinnie Moore. On this track, he continues to prove he’s more than a shredder. For fans who tend toward the Schenker-era UFO material, give this song a chance; there’s no reason for you not to like the playing on it. Vinnie is an amazing guitarist, and really shines throughout on this one.
One of my favorite songs on the CD is definitely “Waving Goodbye”, a classic UFO ballad, complete with soaring melodies, sweeping organ, and a mix of acoustic & electric guitar riffs. Moore’s solo is tasty as all hell, and it’s clear he’s really settled into his role here.
This Deluxe Edition of the album offers three bonuses; the groovy and classy “Other Men’s Wives”, the good, intimate “Bag O’ Blues” recorded in a ‘retro way’, and the previously unreleased instrumental version of “Wonderland”, very enjoyable.
On this, album number four of the Vinnie Moore era, UFO delivered yet another astounding, solid, classic Hard Rock record. With “Seven Deadly” the band returned to their traditional Hard Rock roots, yet still retaining some of that bluesy edge they seem to have incorporated over the last few years.
On this recording, at his 63, Phil Mogg sounds better than ever, Vinnie Moore is sizzling throughout, Andy Parker is still pounding his kit as a teenager, and Paul Raymond adds his keyboard colors and occasional rhythm guitar, providing a solid rhythm section.
With “Seven Deadly”, UFO have proved exactly why they are still going after all these years. The reason is simple. They still write great songs. This is classic Hard Rock at its purest, and should end up as another feather in the cap for UFO.
Highly Recommended
01 - Fight Night.mp3
02 - Wonderland.mp3
03 - Mojo Town.mp3
04 - Angel Station.mp3
05 - Year Of The Gun.mp3
06 - The Last Stone Rider.mp3
07 - Steal Yourself.mp3
08 - Burn Your House Down.mp3
09 - The Fear.mp3
10 - Waving Good Bye.mp3
11 - Other Men's Wives (bonus track).mp3
12 - Bag O' Blues (bonus track).mp3
13 - Wonderland (Instrumental) (bonus track).mp3
Ufo – Seven Deadly (Deluxe edition) 2024, MP3+FLAC
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Thanx a lot.