Black Bonzo - Lady Of The Light (2004)

From the ashes of Swedish hard rockers The Gypsy Sons Of Magic, Black Bonzo rose again as an art prog band by adding depth to their sound through the use of mellotron, piano and Hammond organ. The intense drumming, the intricate guitar work, the firm but steady bass lines, the complex song structures, the overall pomp and their vocalist (who sounds like David Byron resurrected) all spell Uriah Heep, big time. From the very first moment Black Bonzo takes you on a trip to the wonderful sound of the late Sixties and early Seventies with strong hints from early Uriah Heep (Hammond, vocal harmonies) but also echoes from The Moody Blues (Mellotron) and Argent ('heavy progressive' with Hammond organ and harder-edged guitar). The ten compositions sound warm, harmonic and varied featuring pleasant vocals and lots of majestic Mellotron waves and powerful Hammond organ runs along some fiery electric guitar. A great album in its own right that will grab your attention from start to finish. Powerful stuff and excellent production.