BOC: My Heaven Forbid Review

[Troy Harris]

  Folks,

   Well, almost a week after after my attainment of my copy of Heaven
Forbid, I am now ready to post my first review ever to BOC-L.
    I bought the album two days after it was released in the USA, by way of
import.  In a sense I was prepared to face the cover.  I had seen the CMC
website, and found it to be a good preparation for what I think everybody
considers a pretty ordinary cover.  By BÖC standards, it is below average.
But interesting enough, the guy who sold it to me thought the cover of
"Cultosaurus Erectus" was worse.  Well, the cover is bad, but not as bad as
I was thinking it would be.  I think the point is is that is is out of
character to some degree.  It looks like it would make a good cover for a
death-metal band.  Perhaps CMC is trying to market to these folks.  That
would be a mistake though, because the music is a million miles from
death-metal.
   I have been a BÖC fan for around 19 years or so.  I remember being
excited about the release of Mirrors, and then of course the following
releases.  When Mirrors came out , I was delighted, and I still like it.  It
was different, melodic, and diverse.  Many don´t like it.  Others love it.
But to me it was BÖC.  To me the one common denominator of all BÖC albums is
this : you don't know what to expect.  I can imagine being around when
Agents of Fortune was relased.  Such a change of style.  But brilliant.  Not
one album has been like another.  For a band many have previously called a
heavy metal band, this is a huge statement, most metal bands being rather
confined.
  And so, after 10 years of waiting for new BÖC songs,  I am at last
confronted with Heaven Forbid.  The only expectation I had was that this
would be like no other BÖC album, or any other group's album for that
matter.  I wanted them to be true to form.  I am not disappointed.
  We Aussies have not heard a peep of this stuff.  We do not see them live,
and the Summerdaze release seems mythical to us.  I had no idea what to expect.
  The opener is the metallic "See you in Black".  This songs rocks, hard. It
is typical metal, and once again, as in the days of old, when BÖC do metal,
they reign supreme.  It is no wonder this band is built on heavy rock.  They
do it well.  Eric Bloom sounds fantastic, and the lyric of this number is
quite catchy and almost tongue in cheek.  Blazing guitars, pounding riffs,
yes even a Metallica fan would be pleased.
   The next tune is "Harvest Moon".  The guys have tread this terrain
before, the distinctive smooth rock sound of  Buck Dharma coming through.
It is moody and melodic, with a speedy guitar solo at full-gallop in the
middle.  I am pleased with this track, and it is good to see the return of
the fast soloing by Buck.  Not since awesome speed bits like solos from "The
Marshall Plan" and "Monsters" have we seen this done so well.  Possibly the
easiest song to access on this album.
  Then follows the heavier "Power Underneath Despair".  Again, prime Eric
Bloom vocals.  Heavy riffs, and a completely unusual chorus, with a unique beat.
A great track.  I like this.
  " X-ray Eyes"  .  Catchy, with the guitar hook to end all guitar hooks.
This is an excellent song, Buck singing, and his style suits this one well.
Some very tasty stuff way back in the mix.  New territory in many ways for
the band.
  Then your ears are treated to "Hammer Back".  This is a metal song with
grunt.  The riff is great , with the guitars playing different tunes. This
is again the metal BÖC.   The Lyric (by John Shirley) suits the song rather
well. An agressive solo, and this tune played loud will kill your lawn.
   The next song "Damaged", is one of two that are a real departure from the
norm for BÖC - or is it?   It is flat-out boogie style groove rock, with hot
soloing and the speediest finish since the live version of  "Seven Screaming
Diz-busters". I think to myself that this is not typical of BÖC.  Then I
remember the boogie groove of "I'm on the lamb but I ain't no sheep", or
"Buck's Boogie" or even the live "Maserati GT (I ain't got you)" and I see
this as the 90's kicking version.  This song is a ripper!
   "Cold Grey Light of Dawn" follows.  This is similar to "Power Underneath
Despair" and is heavy, melodic, and Eric Bloom is shining.  This is perhaps
one of his best ever.  Eric has matured to prove once and for all he is
quality.  In a world of growlers and screamers, this guy is a pleasant
change.  This track is perhaps my fave.  Again, great Shirley lyrics about
the futility of lying and cheating.
   Then we have "Real World", the other unusual song, and a clear departure
from the norm for this band.  Acoustic driven boogie, with that unmistakable
vibe of other-worldness that only BÖC can do.  This song is the eye-opener.
Perhaps I found this difficult to handle at first, but on further listens,
the thing striking best is the subtlety that this song has. This is the
typical mood of the best of BÖC, the hidden hooks that grow on you.  Yes,
this song is great.  Unusual, unexpected, but great.   Very different but
welcome. BÖC havent sounded this off the wall since "Workshop of the
Telescopes", not that this song sounds anything like that.
  "Live for Me" is the next one and the fifth song on the album sung by
Buck.  It is an absolute gem.  The lyrics rule, and tell a sad but uplifting
story.  John Shirley has shown real talent here.  Buck delivers the lyrics
with feel. It is a trademark 80's style rocker with melody and poise.  The
hooks are there and the song goes well.  Perhaps Buck's best performance on
the album, vocally.  Very very good song.
  The last of the new songs is "Still Burnin'". Co-written with former bass
player Jon Rogers, who plays and sings backing on this one, it is a simple
metal song with a catchy riff, feel, and lyric.  Good soloing from Buck too.
But I wonder if this song would have sounded better with Eric singing.  Not
to worry, it is a great tune.
  The old Mirrors song "In thee" done live and acoustically, is the finisher
for the album.  Really a nice add-on for the BÖC junkie.
  The players on this album are all in peak form.  Eric Bloom sounds
fantastic.  Buck plays his best ever , and the album has captured his
accomplished style and flair.  He sings well too. But, as his first real
production of a BÖC album, he excells.  He will always have a career in
music. The production is world class.  Allen Lanier is a little in the
background in the mix, but he is there and the key solo on "Damaged" is
cool.  Then we have Danny Miranda on bass.  His first appearance on an
album, and he certainly shows form.  Particularly on "X-Ray Eyes".  He is a
welcome addition to the band, and a fitting replacement for Joe Bouchard.
The drum duties are for the most part taken up by Chuck Burgi, who has since
departed, but he shows the same competence and skill as we saw on "Cult
Classic" , and he is a fine, tight drummer.  Current drummer Bobby
Rondinelli drums on "Live for Me", and we are starved of the opportunity to
hear his best form , restricted to a one song output.
  All-in all, this album rocks.  In a world where it is almost impossible to
find recent albums with an element of classic longevity, this is just what
Dr. Music ordered.   I look at the sad array of hard and heavy rock on the
shelves of the stores these days, and lament.  This album will shine
through, if it ever gets the chance.  With a cover like this, the metaller
will buy it, and be dissapointed, being forced to stretch his mind too far.
But the quality rocker, who this album is custom made for, will ignore it
for the cover.  Interesting situation.  For the BÖC fan, this rules.  Just
as expected, an album like no other previously, and unpredictable in it's
style.  Like other albums though, it is BÖC.  It is heavy rock played with
variety, style, and finesse.  Quality musicians. Good lyricist.
  Guys, gone are the days of old.  The Bouchards have both moved on to other
pastures.  The influential Pearlman is not here.  Neither is Meltzer.  But
BÖC have survived, and as someone has said, re-invented themselves.  The
album is a culmination.  The varying styles of old have been represented,
but not copied or relied upon.  The BÖC of 1998 is fresh and exciting.   Buy
it today!

   Troy


===========================================
        Troy Harris

        fiskare at webconcept.com.au

                 P O Box 1066
                 Mornington Vic.   3931
                 Australia