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SNOWBLIND Democracy Majestic Rock MAJCD065 (2005)
NWoBHM cast offs Snowblind, featuring bassist Geoff Gillespie, recorded several demos and sessions during the early 80s.
Their music was at the melodic end, with Ross Bingham’s keyboards adding a slight pomp touch. The pomp sound was exaggerated with the arrangements, big choruses and backing vocals.
The first session here was recorded at the Denmark Street Studios, and while remarkably better recorded than the demos Majestic released last year, it’s equally remarkable how poor the mixing is. So while the music is no longer sludgy it is still very dull and grey. On Our Own and Look On Up are great rock tracks, but the quality here does not do them, or the band, justice. Having a stand in vocalist doesn’t help either, good though he was.
New live sessions and new vocalist Tony Mason in place, the recording quality actually becomes representative. Something the band should be releasing, rather than muddy demos.
The pomp and commercial sound added touches of Heavy Pettin’.
Thoroughly enjoyable, although far from premier division.
**½
Review by Joe Geesin
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