Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Atomic Rooster
Label: EMI Records
Released: 1980
Length: 42:57
Rating: 3.5/5
In 1980, Atomic Rooster rose from the ashes like the mythical phoenix – or, in their case, the more fitting atomic rooster – and once again came back with a completely overhauled sound that perfectly mirrored the times in British rock music. Legendary keyboardist and band boss Vincent Crane (1943-1989) was determined, seven years after the funk rock experiment »Nice ‘n’ Greasy« (1973), to present Atomic Rooster to a whole new generation of listeners as a modern hard rock band, one with the untamed energy and punch to keep up with the then-hot NWOBHM movement (the ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’). To that end, on »Atomic Rooster« he ditched the piano, the electric piano and the synths and went all in on his beloved Hammond organ.
After nine years, the keyboardist, weighed down by serious mental illness, joined forces with guitarist/singer John Du Cann, with whom he’d long been at odds. The two then roped in session drummer Preston Heyman, and the lineup that kicked off the resurrection of the long-written-off cult band was born. So after the early hard-prog years and the later funk rock phase, Atomic Rooster switched horses at the start of the eighties to a hard rock steed, at times almost heavy metal, and won themselves a whole new base of followers. »Atomic Rooster« was the only record by this short-lived lineup, and it’s still highly regarded among heavy rock fans. Because it shares its title with their debut from ten years earlier, though, some people, especially clueless Americans, still have trouble ordering/buying their discography today, which is hardly surprising.
The fact that the band on »Atomic Rooster«, despite the two old, familiar names, came from a completely different sonic universe than the one from seven years earlier is clear from the opening hard rock blaster »They Took Control of You«, where ragged guitar phrases backed by massive Hammond textures cut sharply through the air, while the drum barrages make a fittingly rebellious rhythmic send-off. Du Cann’s vocal approach is quite different from his last vocal contribution on the masterpiece »Death Walks Behind You« (1970), as by now he’d turned much more throaty and punky. At moments, though rarely, he even sounds a bit like Alice Cooper. »She’s My Woman« is a hard rock love-song ‘drinker’ with an uncompromising guitar riff, enraged vocals and a mighty wall of Hammond, through which a decent drum stampede comes charging.
»He Did It Again« has a slightly brighter vibe than most of the other tracks on the album, thanks to the mischievous Hammond sound, even though Du Cann, with his defiant vocals and dirty guitar phrasing, makes sure the ‘atomic roosters’ sound punchier than ever before in their career. »Where’s the Show« has a punkish rhythm that fits Du Cann’s throaty vocals and potent guitar work to a T, while Crane shines with witty organ licks that recall his best days from the early seventies. The brutal »In The Shadows« has a creepy, sinister atmosphere courtesy of Du Cann’s vocal performance, which this time sounds like an irritated goblin sneering throatily from a dark lair. The uncompromising layer of organ is backed by massive drum fills and scorching guitar work.
»Do You Know Who’s Looking For You?«, on which Du Cann once again snarls as rebelliously as he can, has a punk-tinged rhythm, while mighty drum crashes slam through a massively fortified organ wall. Without any kind of ballad breather, Atomic Rooster keep rolling through the whole album at the hardest-hitting level possible, which once again comes through nicely on »Don’t Lose Your Mind«. For a change, this one even boasts a melodic chorus, while a hellish guitar riff, over a bed of merciless drum barrages, cuts through the churning organ passages. The fast-paced instrumental »Watch Out« features bouncy organ variations that connect brilliantly with bombastic guitar phrases and a wild drum stampede.
»I Can’t Stand It« is another dynamic hard rocker with a rebellious-sounding vocal, a combative guitar riff and a pulsing rhythm, to which mighty organ textures lend plenty of atmospheric breadth. »Lost in Space«, the album’s closer, is somewhat surprisingly the most expansive track on it atmospherically, as Crane’s epic organ passages and the backing vocals keeping company with Du Cann’s defiant vocal snarling erupt dramatically in a mighty chorus, making for an epic epilogue.
The 2005 reissue, put out by Angel Air and not licensed by the original label EMI, includes two bonus tracks, »Throw Your Life Away« and »Broken Window«, which originally came out as B-sides of the singles »Do You Know Who’s Looking For You?« and »Don’t Lose Your Mind«. Both are pretty average songs overall, in a similar hard rock style to the rest of the album.
»Atomic Rooster« was yet another sonic mutation, with the already written-off cult band rising from the dead and making a surprisingly solid hard rock album that won the hearts of plenty of NWOBHM fans. Sadly, the Crane-Du Cann duo’s fun and unusually successful ‘metal march’ didn’t last long. Right after the tour ended, drummer Heyman left the ‘metal’ version of the ‘atomic roosters’, and after a very brief episode with the legendary Ginger Baker (Cream, ex-Hawkwind), returning member Paul Hammond jumped in. Just when it looked like the reassembled »Death Walks Behind You« lineup, which even put out two singles in 1981 and 1982 amid an active run of live shows, had finally caught a steady wind in its sails, the moody Du Cann suddenly vanished to who knows where, without officially announcing his exit from the band. A ‘deserted’ Crane, who took over the lead vocals, set off with Hammond for the atomic rooster’s last studio dance.
Lineup
Vincent Crane – Hammond organ
John Du Cann – guitar, vocals
Preston Heyman – drums, percussion
Production
Vincent Crane and John Du Cann
Track list
1. They Took Control Of You (4:47)
2. She’s My Woman (3:12)
3. He Did It Again (4:02)
4. Where’s The Show? (3:52)
5. In The Shadows (6:50)
6. Do You Know Who’s Looking For You? (3:03)
7. Don’t Lose Your Mind (3:34)
8. Watch Out! (instrumental) (4:04)
9. I Can’t Stand It (3:46)
10. Lost In Space (5:50)
