Music : Wake The Sleeper

Rating: - A Solid Return
Head First was the last Heep album I bought. Not paid any attention to them since then, but reading reviews here at Amazon, I took the plunge and bought Awake The Sleeper.

Good job I took the advice on offer, because this is a good, solid listen and so nearly a 5 star effort.

Good mixture of new and old sounds here, with that great Heep-unique organ accompanying songs throughout. It rocks from start to finish, but a special mention for What Kind of God, which is classic Heep to these ears.

Lads, don't think about drawing your pensions yet : there's obviously life in you all still!

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Rating: - Excellent album from a forgotten legend!!!
In the 70ies, I 've been a die-hard URIAH HEEP fan. Facing a big deception upon the release of the awful "Conquest", I lost any interest when they got radio friendly with subsequent releases. But here they seem to make over for the 30 years of dinosauric mediocrity. "Wake the Sleeper" is their best album since 1978's "Fallen Angel". Excellent stuff when it comes to songwriting and great musicanship all over! Mick shreads on the wah-wah Les Paul squeals and Phil Lanzon swimply does awsomely Ken Hensley's job. Russel Gilbrook is a solid Lee Kerslake replacement. Trevor Bolder is the faultless spine he always had been since his days with Bowie's SPIDERS FROM MARS. However, I wish they 'd done it with a heavier production when it comes to hammond organ swirls and somebody like John Lawton in the vocals, instead of the indifferent Bernie Shaw. So 5 stars for the effort and the memories reawaken but 3 for the production.
MOTORHEAD, LEAF HOUND, GUNSLINGER, URIAH HEEP... it seems that 2008 is the year of revenge from the old-school. Keep it on!

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Rating: - Awake but some trouble getting out of bed...
After ages waiting for this album my opinions are mixed, the songs are good and would stand up well against their early material but the mixing spoils a potentially great album, my mother could have done a better job.
The sound quality is clear enough but the band sound trapped inside a distant AOR FM radio "cage" and are unable to break their way out - there is no power behind the music, the swirling Hammond organ, a huge feature of the band in their heyday, has been trapped in its cage, writhing to get out. This can be improved slightly by turning up the bass, and gets better on some of the songs but is frustrating when compared to an early copy of "Salisbury", a three dimensional battery of earth-trembling power to this thin effort, there is no "Lady in Black" here but the songs are good, pity the band's reawakening is let down by poor production, I will look forward to hearing these songs played live!

Music rating -5/5
Sound 2/5

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Rating: - Uriah Heep's Rock Masterclass!
It's been worth the wait, but at last, after a good number of excellent albums, some drifting into mediocrity, Heep have created something really special. As a long-time fan (they were the very first band I saw live in 1973 when they had their classic line-up, including Dave Byron, Ken Hensley and Gary Thain) I knew Uriah Heep were something special. But they never really quite hit the mark (unlike Deep Purple). Don't get me wrong - they have delivered a number of classic albums and have always been an entertaining and generous live act (their legions of fans are loyal and passionate about the band in all its incarnations), but they have continued to miss the big time over the last few years, delivering well-attended gigs for the faithful. But now - this album arrives out of the blue and it's a belter! A collection of great rock songs (which are going to be great live!)- it's difficult to recommend highlights because this is such a strong album. Immediate attention-grabbers are 'Overload' and 'Book Of Lies', but there is a wealth of great rock to choose from. I would seriously recommend this album to any rock fan. The playing is superb (the drumming by Russell Gilbrook is awesome!) and vocalist Bernie Shaw delivers an assured performance throughout. Mick Box - well, he's still a really great guitarist. Invest in this and listen for yourself - you won't be disappointed. Heep are back and, to echo one of their previous releases: "you can't keep a good band down!" Highly recommended.

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Rating: - Good try but can't ever dare to compare with their 70s work
As a die hard fan of UH, I am pushing hard to make myself enjoy this album but it's not happenning. It doesn't mean it isn't good. I believe "Wake the Sleeper" is their best album since John Lawton left the band. But if you have ever tasted UH with Ken Hensley and David Byron, then you know what I mean. Give it a listen but don't expect much.