After the band’s return in 1980, this is the second album and Deliver Us From Evil would be the final release from that period. This is definitely the most melodic of all Budgie albums. The writing partnership between band founder, Burke Shelley, and guitarist, John Thomas, was working great and I for one was definitely surprised when they disappeared again without recording anything else until 2006.
Opening track, Turned To Stone, is a killer opening track with a great melody and hook – plus an awesome instrumental section. Keeping A Rendezvous is a cool song with a superb harmony and great guitar from Thomas. Reaper Of The Glory opens with a cool chord pattern and an almost shuffle groove. Side 1 closes out with She Used Me Up and is quite a simple riff and groove, very NWOBHM sounding.
Side 2 opens with the amazing Lay Down And Die – a great song and a killer ending. Apparatus is as close to a ballad as this band gets. Superstar is next, which is my favourite track on the album, and with a monster riff and groove, this track really swings. Change Your Ways follows and has a somewhat Beatles vibe to it but much heavier. The album closes out with Untitled Lullaby and is an acoustic piece – and if I’m honest, it’s a bit of a let down to close out the album, but it’s still a great record.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
