Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Uriah Heep
Label: SPV Records
Released: 1995
Rating: 5/5
To mark the band’s 25th anniversary comes “Sea Of Light”, their 19th studio album. This is one of the best albums Uriah Heep have ever put out, and compared to their older catalog, quality-wise it can comfortably stand shoulder to shoulder with “Demons And Wizards” (1972), “The Magician’s Birthday” (1972) or “Firefly” (1977). By 1995 Uriah Heep had been running in their revamped lineup for nine years and had released just two studio albums in that time, mostly keeping their name on the rock map through countless tours. Either way, in that time the band grew into this lineup with incredible solidity and a deep feel for one another.
After “Different World” (1991), which we can call just a good album that could have been a whole lot better, “Sea Of Light” is, musically speaking, simply a perfect record. Twelve songs, dressed up flawlessly from head to toe. There’s nothing to add and nothing to take away. Everything clicks together in the best possible symbiosis.
The lyrics bring an exceptional mix too, digging deep into the search for love within yourself and touching on the spiritual, while rebelliously and unbendingly pointing a finger at the prisoners of conformity who bow to the dark forces of political parasites, twisted war generals and the other morally mangled cripples of our time. This time around, Uriah Heep deliver their message in the verses with real finesse, yet at the same time it’s incredibly easy to grasp. The only true path to truth is finding love in yourself. There are as many truths as there are people. Here we run straight into a connection with songs like The Wizard (“Demons And Wizards”, 1972) or Wise Man (“Firefly”, 1977), where the band looks for the light within.
“Sea Of Light” kicks off with the fiery storm of Against The Odds, woven from a very simple but incredibly convincing guitar motif by Mick Box, underpinned by the gigantic sound of Kerslake’s drums. When Bernie Shaw comes in with his outstanding vocals, which stamp every song with a personality of its own and breathe in a magical atmosphere, there isn’t a moment that could pull you away from losing yourself in the song. In the outro, Box manages to add a few wonderfully fitting melodic solos that fan the highly dramatic mood all the way to boiling point. The album carries on with the cheeky Sweet Sugar, aimed at the way materialism force-feeds us the lie of prosperity. Then the band sends its horse galloping again with one of the most beautiful songs they’ve ever written, Time Of Revelation, which could easily have opened the album instead of Against All Odds. The song is about exploring yourself, getting to know yourself, the beauty of simply realizing it, and a similar message is carried on by Spirit Of Freedom and Love In Silence further in. It’s shot through with a terrific contrast between Box’s dramatic motifs and the jolting drumming of Lee Kerslake that fertilizes them. Mistress Of All Time calms the scene. Here Bernie Shaw steps into the spotlight with deeply soulful, sophisticated singing, wrapped in a gorgeous cloak by Lanzon’s keyboards. The “green” language of ecological awareness speaks through yet another track that feels utterly dramatic and apocalyptic, just like Against The Odds. That’s Universal Wheels.
Fear Of Falling is one of the most interesting songs on the album. It’s built on a pronounced groove beat, led by a simple Box motif on a delay effect, just a single note, while underneath rides a progressively broken rhythm line that gives it a “stumbling” feel. The song is all the more special because the lead vocals here come from Trevor Bolder, who gives it an obscure, dark flavor. A great solution by the band.
The album doesn’t hide its touch of prog. It’s full of vivid passages created by the keyboards or guitar, as well as their interplay. Very effective, easy on the ears, precisely placed, and added in just the right doses. One of the more progressive tracks is definitely Logical Progression, with an exceptional spiritual message, like this: “…throw away all the memories that eat at you, because you know that love is the only way…”. Tailor-made to follow it is one of the most beautiful songs, Love In Silence, which doesn’t let up in its spiritual faith, again with Bernie Shaw’s one-of-a-kind approach in the foreground and the orchestral reach of Lanzon’s keyboards, where classical piano is emphasized above all. Love In Silence is the most progressive number on the record. The solid hard rock grip returns to the album with the wonderfully metallized Box riff of Words In The Distance, which over all the years since the album came out has become part of the band’s iron-clad live repertoire. Words In The Distance is one of the most nobly written gems not just of this album but of the entire Uriah Heep discography! The 11th track, Fires Of Hell, keeps the thunderous sound of Box’s riff from Words In A Distance, and the album closes with the acoustic Dream On, which confirms the band’s superb sense for crafting killer melodic combinations, with a captured, highly dramatic atmosphere. Bernie’s vocals really sparkle here. Heep approach it with incredible softness, which only lifts the album’s ending higher in emotional intensity.
What makes this album so special? A solid dramatic ambience that works highly convincingly, noble melodicism in all the main motifs as well as the added little extras (the decorative bridging solos). Melodic multi-part vocal harmonies are used here, with which the band creates atmospheric peaks in flawlessly finished choruses. The songs don’t fluctuate in quality and are completely on par with each other. On top of that there’s crystal-clear, tightly controlled yet explosive rock production, with instruments contrasted beautifully against each other, creating incredible sonic depth, vividness and dynamics across the album. Sea Of Light is one of those albums that belong in the CD collection of every true rock fan. Even if you don’t know Uriah Heep, “Sea Of Light” is a bull’s-eye that, once you invest in it, keeps delighting the listener for a long, long time afterward. It’s an evergreen album you can grow old with, and one of the most beautiful albums not just by Uriah Heep as a band but on the whole map of rock music!
Lineup
Bernie Shaw – vocals
Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals
Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar, backing vocals
Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals
Production
Uriah Heep & Kalle Trapp
Track List
1. Against The Odds (6:12)
2. Sweet Sugar (4:43)
3. Time On Revelation (4:02)
4. Mistress Of All Time (5:33)
5. Universal Wheels (5:39)
6. Fear Of Falling (4:38)
7. Spirit Of Freedom (4:14)
8. Logical Progression (6:12)
9. Love In Silence (6:48)
10. Words in The Distance (4:46)
11. Fires Of Hell (Your Only Son)(3:56)
12. Dream On (4:26)
Album length: 61:09
