Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Blue Öyster Cult
Label: Sanctuary Records
Released: 2001
Length: 50:54
Rating: 4/5
»Curse of the Hidden Mirror« was the fourteenth (and, for now, last) studio album by the cult American heavy rockers Blue Öyster Cult. The follow-up to »Heaven Forbid« (1998) came out while the musical agents in black were signed to the legendary Sanctuary Records label, and for a short while it seemed they were reliably coming back to the scene as a studio band too, after a (far too) long dormant stretch in the early nineties (most of the members would probably rather forget the music for the poorly received film »Bad Channels« from 1992, while »Cult Classic« from 1994 featured re-recorded BÖC classics).
Singer/guitarist Eric Bloom, singer/guitarist Donald ‘Buck Dharma’ Roeser, keyboardist/guitarist Allen Lanier and the two ‘fresh’ members, drummer Bobby Rondinelli (ex-Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, Riot) and bassist Danny Miranda, had big plans for »Curse of the Hidden Mirror«, which was supposed to be the Blue Öyster Cult album that would repeat the commercial success of the ‘good old days’. Instead of living up to the big expectations, it got a cold shower on release, even though it’s a thoroughly decent album that often calls the ‘good old days’ to mind. The band’s hope of restoring the (rock star) status they enjoyed in the seventies and eighties was somewhat unrealistic at the start of the new century, when times were pretty tough commercially for classic and heavy rock, since the music scene had changed drastically since then (sadly, mostly for the worse).
»Curse of the Hidden Mirror« definitely doesn’t belong among the elite of their achievements, but in every respect it’s a thoroughly successful, if not exactly great, Blue Öyster Cult record, with excellent production and plenty of the trademark qualities that delight longtime fans. Bloom and Buck Dharma, with their guitars and distinctive vocal approaches, played a key role in making the album sound the way it should, while John Shirley, a renowned science fiction (cyberpunk) author, helped with the lyrics, so the themes of the individual songs are mostly typical of the indestructible musical agents in black.
»Dance On Stilts« opens with a hefty riff and a slight bluesy touch, then, with the help of Buck’s subtle vocal approach and refined rhythmic intervals, drifts into very relaxed waters. The end result, especially the ending laced with layered vocals, is thrilling, even though »Dance On Stilts« as a whole isn’t on the level of some of the great opening tracks from the band’s glorious past. »Showtime« spotlights one of BÖC’s strongest weapons – vocal harmonies. They nicely pave the way for Eric’s traditionally gruff vocals and set up a classic, infectious chorus. »The Old Gods Return« is a hard-hitting piece with punchy guitar passages, crushing drum transitions and the recognizably gruff Eric in the lead vocal role, creating a welcome contrast. The next song, »Pocket«, was the only single from the album. It was made with the clear intention of becoming a hit, which sadly didn’t pan out. If it had come out some fifteen years earlier, it would surely have made a much bigger splash, since it’s a classic BÖC hybrid of hard rock and melodic rock with Buck on lead vocals and a peak in an instantly catchy chorus.
The dirty and slightly clichéd hard rocker »One Step Ahead Of The Devil« is by far the weakest effort on the album, building mostly on the sharpness of furious guitar passages and Eric’s vocal bellowing, while lacking the emotional depth you’d expect, and not even a chorus that’s thoroughly average by BÖC standards can fix that. »I Just Like To Be Bad« is likewise one of the album’s less inspired moments, even though it has a livelier structure than its predecessor, decent piano passages and decent rhythmic jumps. »Here Comes The Feeling«, which of course has no connection to the Asia classic of the same name, is one of the highlights of »Curse of the Hidden Mirror«, one that will have all admirers of past BÖ classics with Buck in the lead vocal role, like »Dancin’ In The Ruins« and »Perfect Water«, licking their lips. The subtle yet nostalgic chorus is a pure triumph of atmosphere and arrangement.
»Out Of The Darkness« is a reminder that even an eternal vocal ‘brute’ like Eric can conjure up an exceptionally subtle atmosphere. Despite the slow tempo, it’s yet another highly likable piece peaking in a mighty, multi-voiced chorus, and the refined piano arrangements and excellent guitar solo deserve a mention too. The slightly funky »Stone Of Love«, with lyrics by old collaborator Richard Meltzer, is another outstanding creation in which Buck’s remarkable vocal charisma shines once more, while the superb vocal harmonies impress especially in the chorus.
Among the punchier pieces, »Eye Of The Hurricane« stands out, with Eric’s irritated vocal in command and a climax in a mighty chorus. Together with its crushing drum transitions and ominous central arrangement, it’s undoubtedly one of the peaks of »Curse of the Hidden Mirror«. »Good To Feel Hungry« is an unexpectedly complex and at the same time fun closer to the album, with colorful, funky bass lines and slightly jazzy arrangements, while Eric’s vocal slowly builds an increasingly dramatic and mysterious mood. Lanier’s juicy Hammond organ solo is a special surprise too, soon joined by Buck’s playful guitar improvisation.
»Curse of the Hidden Mirror« did have a few quality wobbles, but overall it was still a thrilling record that served up a heaping helping of listening pleasure for most longtime Blue Öyster Cult fans. After the solid »Heaven Forbid« they moved even closer to their former standards, proved once again that they’d stayed true to their recognizable songwriting approach, and that the specific, ‘conspiratorial’ atmospheric magic is still present in their sound. But the band’s disappointment over the album’s commercial failure was so great that Blue Oyster Cult fans have been waiting in vain for a new studio record since 2001, while their favorites focus only on live shows, and mostly just on home turf, that is, in the US. Ever since they stopped working with Sanctuary Records in 2002, they still have no contract with a (new) label.
Lineup
Eric Bloom – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Donald ‘Buck Dharma’ Roeser – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar
Danny Miranda – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Bobby Rondinelli – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Norman DelTufo – percussion
George Cintron – backing vocals
Production
Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom
Track list
1. Dance on Stilts (6:05)
2. Showtime (4:38)
3. The Old Gods Return (4:36)
4. Pocket (4:15)
5. One Step Ahead of the Devil (4:16)
6. I Just Like to Be Bad (3:54)
7. Here Comes That Feeling (3:21)
8. Out of the Darkness (5:06)
9. Stone of Love (5:49)
10. Eye of the Hurricane (4:40)
11. Good to Feel Hungry (4:12)
