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Update may 2 :
Translated reviews from Finland by Tapio Minkkinen
One more translation and that's from
Rumba album chart from
this page where Heep is mentioned:
http://www.rumba.fi/foo-fightersin-wasting-light-palasi-rumban-albumilistan-karkeen-21915/
"Over 40 years doesn't seem to be slowing Uriah Heep
down: Into The
Wild went straight to number five with a bang. The
band had three
consecutive number one albums in Finland in the
early 70's but was
forgotten in the 90's when none of their studio
albums reached the
official Finnish chart."
This is very true, the previous Heep album in
Finnish charts was
Firefly in 1977. Both compilation albums: Forever in
1998 & The
Ultimate Collection in 2003 of course went to charts,
the latter as
high as nr. 11 but none with new material.
The number five spot here is actually very
significant as this chart
published by Rumba magazine is considered by many "real
music fans" as
the proper official chart. It is compiled from the
same sales figures
that make up the official chart but they leave out
all the
supermarkets and many of the online stores that sell
also other stuff
than records and include only sales from proper
record stores. So it
means that ITW was the fifth biggest selling album
at those record
stores.


"I would never have believed I would live to see this
day and write these words. Uriah Heep to me has always
been a band that reflects best the dilemma of Classic
Rock bands - how to make new and interesting music in a
way that even the old fans will like it. Mick Box and
the guys were trying desperately to follow the new winds
and fashion trends but this kind of thing cannot work-
and it didn't. With a bit exaggeration you could say
that a few years ago the band had fans left only in
Finland and the former Soviet Union. Then something
happened.
The drum stool was suddenly left vacant. And Russell
Gilbrook rose it.
The band was like a new band.
The 2008 album Wake The Sleeper already received good
reviews.
Celebration released in 2009 contained old hits
performed by the current line-up. I don't know how well
that album worked but it musta have operated as a spark
to the fire you can hear on Into The Wild. The band is
now aflame! Into The Wild sounds like what Uriah Heep
should sound like. A delicate progressive rock sound. As
impossible as it may seem the singer Bernie Shaw almost
sounds like David Byron and the songs sound like as if
they had been written by Ken Hensley. Mick Box's band is
no longer acting Uriah Heep.
The opening Nail To The Head crushes rhythmically and
makes the listener to nod his head with satisfaction.
Then the pace is accelerated on I Can See You. In th
chorus you can hear traditional Uriah Heep choirs. After
that you're ecpecting a ballad but no! The band kicks
even more vigorously with the title track. Then it is
time to calm down a bit and showcase the band's more
experimental side. Into The Wild is no new Look At
Yourself or Demons and Wizards but you can put it place
it in your shelf with good conscience next to the
classic albums.
Tero Honkasalo"
www.levyarvostelut.fi:
http://www.levyarvostelut.fi/levy/2000/into-the-wild
A review from SUE magazine, image
attached. Website
http://www.sue.fi/
URIAH HEEP
INTO THE WILD
8 / 10 points
"When a band has 42 years, 22 studio albums and 15
different line-ups behind, expectations are not really
high. Along with many fellow dinosaurs gotten to the
care of Frontiers Uriah Heep looks to be more vital than
in decades. Heep has had many exprerimentations over the
years but on their two latest albums they have sounded
more like the band from the 70's. The songs mainly
written by guitarist Mick Box and keyboard player Phil
Lanzon make up the best album after Raging Silence in
1989. It's a pity that the current material is wasted at
events like Katinkulta 70's festival and K-team Päivät
where the band is mainly a nostalgy act.
The new drummer Russell Gilbrook has brought new spark
to the at times outdated sound. The grey haired Mick Box
doesn't sound like he's suffering from arthtritis and
Phil Lanzon alongside plays some great Hammond or at
least Hammond souns. Also Heep's weakest link Bernie
Shaw does his job in the studio well unlike at live
shows where he's not always able to deliver well.
Uriah Heep in unlikely to gain any new fans with the new
record but when I played Into The Wild to a few longtime
Heepsters, decision to purchase it was made immediately.
Mika Penttinen"
From Keskisuomalainen newspaper:
http://www.ksml.fi/viihde/levyt/uriah-heep-into-the-wild/665752
Uriah Heep - Into the Wild
4 / 5 points
"Uriah Heep shift to their heaviest gear. The first
couple of songs of Into The Wild are triumphs of heavy
metal. The hypnotic Lost and rocking T-Bird Angel on the
other hand aim for the hearts of old school fans.
Bernie Shaw who is sometimes overlooked for no reason
has a rasping and nuanced voice and is an excellent
vocalist. The trip from heavyness to the picturesque and
and athmospheric Kiss Of Freedom goes by very swiftly.
Into The Wild is like candy that you can overeat without
getting sick.
LASSE LINDQVIST"
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