Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Lucifer's Friend
Label: Lucifer's Records
Release: 2016
Length: 47:59
Rating: 4/5
Even the biggest optimists among their followers probably never imagined that Lucifer’s Friend, the cult German progressive hard rockers who swapped musical styles like they were placing bets throughout their long career, would ever get back together and record a new studio album. Their last reunion, when they put out the album »Sumo Grip« in 1994 under the name Lucifer’s Friend II and then ‘vanished’ again, was a flop, and it seemed like from then on they’d belong to the ‘good old days’ for good. In 2014, the legendary singer John Lawton, their original vocalist and the only Englishman in this German band, who earned his worldwide fame as a member of Uriah Heep, announced that Lucifer’s Friend would reunite in their original lineup and start recording new studio material.
Sadly, original drummer Joachim ‘Addi’ Rietenbach had passed away by then, while original keyboardist Peter Hecht didn’t want to take part in the original-lineup reunion. The keys on the ‘hybrid’ album »Awakening« (2014), which featured newly re-recorded old songs and a handful of new ones, were played by none other than original guitarist Peter Hesslein. Stephan Eggert took over the drum seat from Rietenbach, while »Sumo Grip« returnee Jogi Wichmann ended up behind the keyboards. Lawton, Wichmann, Eggert, Hesslein and original bassist Dieter Horns headed into the studio and recorded a new album titled »Too Late to Hate«, which carries on their rich tradition of mixing different musical styles.
Lucifer’s Friend, who started out in 1968 under the name Asterix, were famous throughout their whole career for being completely unpredictable sonically. Almost every new album had a different musical style, though they mostly dabbled in progressive rock, soul and hard rock (in the early seventies), jazz fusion (in the mid-seventies) and heavy metal (in the early eighties, when they caught the NWOBHM scene ‘by the tail’), while their dark self-titled debut from 1970 is prized mostly by fans of doom metal and early heavy metal.
»Too Late to Hate« is also a blend of different styles, with an emphasis on melodic hard rock, where you’ll find plenty of rustling Hammond organ passages, mighty guitar parts, brilliant solos and Lawton’s still admirable vocal performances. John’s voice, despite him having turned seventy, is still incredibly powerful and flexible, and it’s really the key reason why »Too Late to Hate« simply can’t turn out bad, even though not all the songs on it are equally interesting. The opener, »Demolition Man«, is a melodic heavy rocker with a few unusual sonic touches, like the occasional use of a vocoder, while ruffled guitar parts keep the sound traditional, with Wetton’s mighty voice commanding authoritatively over them, and the synth textures sound like they were lifted straight out of the eighties.
The romantic yet still punchy »Jokers & Fools«, with its melancholic guitar phrases and subtle keyboard passages peaking in an epic chorus, will instantly remind many of the unforgettable Lawton era of Uriah Heep, even though Hesslein has a rather different guitar technique from wah-wah master Mick Box. »When Children Cry« is a socially conscious hybrid of an energetic rocker and a heartfelt power ballad, which, riding on Lawton’s phenomenal, fully committed vocal performance, comes off far better than it would in the hands of some less skilled and less talented singer. »Straight for the Heart« is a decent, melodically minded heavy rocker with an eighties retro flavor, but without any special charm, while »Tell Me Why«, which will be most interesting to all worshippers of Lawton era Uriah Heep, has a somewhat bluesier stamp, mainly thanks to the piano arrangements. The slightly funk-spiced »Don’t Talk to Strangers« has an epic chorus and is one of the most interesting moments on the album. Without Lawton’s vocal contribution it would probably be a totally average effort, but as it is, it’s a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.
The AOR-leaning »I Will Be There« has epic harmony vocals that are totally in the style of Uriah Heep, peaking in a melodic chorus. The whole song is really a pretty good answer to what would have happened if Lawton had stuck with Uriah Heep through the eighties. »This Time« is a cathartic power ballad that, riding on Lawton’s vocal mastery, turns out devilishly good, though instrumentally, if you leave out the moving Hammond organ passages, it’s nothing special. John is simply one of those rare singers who can turn any love ballad into a treat, no matter its structure or lyrics.
»Tears« is pure AOR with an ultra-melodic chorus and a positive vibe that borders on pop rock, and it’ll appeal equally to fans of Uriah Heep and bands like Mike + The Mechanics. On »Sea of Promises« the hard rock guitar parts and massive layers of Hammond organ take over again, while Lawton returns to a fighting vocal approach. With its nostalgic feel, solemn chorus, epic guitar solo and Lawton at his emotional peak, »Brothers Without a Name« ranks among the highlights of »Too Late to Hate«. Finally, there’s a short bonus-track ballad, »When You’re Gone (Live), which would honestly fit better at the end of a live album.
With »Too Late to Hate«, Lucifer’s Friend have made an impressive comeback album that, mostly thanks to the outstanding vocal talent of the (still) unbelievable John Lawton, turns out better than most people would have expected from a band that’s been written off so many times. This time they went for a retro production and a mostly hard rock, or melodic rock, approach, with only a pinch of prog and metal, though there are quite a few moments on »Too Late To Hate« that recall Lawton’s time with Uriah Heep. It’s a shame that so many fans of good rock haven’t even heard of Lucifer’s Friend, while their old albums are still pretty much a rarity on record store shelves. Maybe after the release of »Too late To Hate«, which came out on the band’s own label, that situation will change at least a little for the better, which is the least Lucifer’s Friend deserve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUxpXWrVgAE
Lineup
John Lawton – vocals
Peter Hesslein – guitar
Dieter Horns – bass
Jogi Wichmann – keyboards
Stephan Eggert – drums
Production
Lucifer’s Friend
Tracklist
1. Demolition Man
2. Jokers & Fools
3. When Children Cry
4. Straight for the Heart
5. Tell Me Why
6. Don’t Talk to Strangers
7. I Will Be There
8. This Time
9. Tears
10. Sea of Promises
11. Brothers Without a Name
12. When You’re Gone (Live)
