Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Atomic Rooster
Label: Sanctuary Records
Released: 1970
Length: 45:27
Rating: 4.5/5
»Death Walks Behind You« was the second album from the legendary British prog rock and heavy rock innovators Atomic Rooster, and their first with singer/guitarist John Du Cann (1946-2011), formerly of Andromeda, in the lineup. Together with drummer Paul Hammond (1952-1992), ex-The Farm, he replaced bassist/vocalist Nick Graham and the legendary drummer Carl Palmer (ELP), and helped the band’s boss, the brilliant organist Vincent Crane (1943-1989), push Atomic Rooster another step forward in their fusion of progressive rock and heavy rock, which was unusually innovative for the time.
That completed the classic lineup that recorded »Death Walks Behind You«, in many ways their most polished work, marked from top to bottom by the fiery sound of Crane’s Hammond organ, Du Cann’s red-hot guitar passages and Hammond’s uncompromising drum fills, with which they successfully bridged two different genres. Crane neatly covered for the missing bass guitar with a bass pedal, while Du Cann was even more convincing than his predecessor on vocals, delivering lyrics steeped in nihilism of every kind.
The mood on the album is mostly pretty dark, especially on the opening title classic, a kind of prototype Atomic Rooster standard with a chilling atmosphere, a slow tempo and a hellish guitar riff, while glittering Hammond organ lines pour through relentlessly. Du Cann’s furious vocal approach blends perfectly with the occult lyrics about the personification of death, who lurks around every corner for you with his bony hand and scythe. Between the lyrics, the red-hot guitar and the punchy rhythmic finesse, you could call it a fine example of proto-metal. The dynamic instrumental »VUG« goes for a faster tempo, with spirited organ acrobatics over untamed guitar phrases. Hammond admittedly couldn’t keep up with the exceptional drumming talent of his versatile predecessor, though he got close a few times, but with his uncompromising, massive drum transitions he still fit in very well with the band’s sound at the time, which was still a bit rawer.
»Tomorrow Night« is another unforgettable classic, set to a slow tempo, featuring Du Cann’s inconsolable singing about love troubles, accompanied by piano, mischievous organ escapades, choppy drum transitions and cowbells. The fast-paced and rhythmically very complex »Seven Lonely Streets« has a sacred organ intro that, together with mighty drum transitions and raw guitar riffs, creates a distinctly melodramatic atmosphere. Du Cann’s vocal approach is a bit claustrophobic this time, which suits the rhythmic seasoning of chaotic drum fills well. The expertly synchronized solos on Hammond organ and guitar feel like a head-to-head contest over who can out-virtuoso whom.
»Sleeping For Years« is another fun heavy rock experiment, with a striking opening oscillation on the guitar strings, where a really fun melody eventually emerges over massive layers of organ and bristling guitar snarls. Crane and Du Cann once again don’t skimp on elaborate solos that will still delight any music gourmet today. Slightly less interesting, »I Can’t Take No More« is a rebellious-minded standard with layered organ passages and an enraged vocal approach after yet another bitter romantic disappointment, with potent guitar phrases slicing through it all. The romantic classic »Nobody Else« is a half-ballad built on Crane’s piano, tied together by melancholy guitar passages and tender vocals. It’s a half-ballad because in the second, instrumentally spiced-up part, its structure and atmosphere change completely and take on somewhat brighter shades. The lyrics are thoroughly nihilistic and reflect a revulsion at a world gone mad.
The closing prog rock masterpiece, the epic instrumental »Gershatzer«, is first and foremost a top-class showcase of Crane’s boundless talent on both organ and piano, as the legendary keyboardist, whose life was marked by tragedy, shines here with a series of breathtaking solo spots, throwing down the gauntlet to Keith Emerson (ELP) and Jon Lord (Deep Purple), the most celebrated prog rock and heavy rock keyboard virtuosos of the time. Eventually Hammond gets his own turn too, with a veritable solo orgy on the drums, throwing down the gauntlet to his famous predecessor Carl Palmer (ELP).
The dark epic »Death Walks Behind You« is the most complete statement in the whole saga of this cult British rock outfit and prog rock classic. It’s an album that’s still essential listening for anyone who loves the mighty sound of the Hammond organ and a punchier take on progressive rock. As bizarre and tragic as it sounds, especially considering the dark, occult-leaning lyrics and the excellent cover, which shows a famous picture by the legendary English painter and poet William Blake titled Nebuchadnezzar (a depiction of the ancient Babylonian ruler in the midst of his supposed madness, which is also an allusion to Crane’s periodic mental troubles), the three members of the classic Atomic Rooster lineup that recorded this album are sadly all dead today. None of them lived to see old age.
Lineup
Vincent Crane – Hammond organ, piano, backing vocals
John Du Cann – guitar, vocals
Paul Hammond – drums, percussion
Production
Atomic Rooster
Track list
1. Death Walks Behind You
2. VUG
3. Tomorrow Night
4. Seven Lonely Streets
5. Sleeping For Years
6. I Can’t Take No More
7. Nobody Else
8. Gershatzer
