URIAH HEEP - Sweet Freedom (1973-2004) RM | Expanded De-Luxe Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

By 1973, Uriah Heep had progressed from an English heavy metal band to a worldwide success. They moved on to a new label (Warner Bros.) and began to explore new styles to flesh out their combination of prog complexity and heavy metal muscle. The band's desire to break new ground is established with the lead-off track, "Dreamer": while it riffs as hard as the band's past rockers, it adds a surprising element of funkiness into the band's sound. The gentle, acoustic guitar-dominated "Circus" is another change of pace that pushes the group's sound in a meditative, folky direction. The group also explores new avenues in the lyrical arena. Instead of the mystical tales that dominated albums like Demons and Wizards, Sweet Freedom offers lyrics designed to appeal to the listener on a personal level: The most stirring example is "Stealin'," a song about the regrets that come with living a self-obsessed life. These sentiments were combined with a stirring, soulful melody that helped make the song a radio favorite. Another highlight in this vein is the title track, a song that combines lyrics about the price of being free with an organ-fuelled, hymn-like melody. Despite these successful experiments, there are a few tracks that weigh the proceedings down: "Seven Stars" takes an exciting riff and runs it into the ground with a repetitive arrangement and "Pilgrim" is an over-the-top stab at an adventure tale that pushes the group's excesses to the level of self-parody. However, Sweet Freedom is likable enough to triumph over these missteps. While it isn't the group's finest record, it remains a solid listen for Uriah Heep fans. Donald A. Guarisco  
Tracklist :
1     Dreamer 3'42
Mick Box / Gary Thain
2     Stealin' 4'49
Ken Hensley
3     One Day 2'45
Ken Hensley / Gary Thain
4     Sweet Freedom 6'28
Ken Hensley
5     If I Had the Time 5'37
Ken Hensley
6     Seven Stars 3'48
Ken Hensley
7     Circus 2'43
Mick Box / Lee Kerslake / Gary Thain
8     Pilgrim 7'06
David Byron / Ken Hensley
9     Sunshine 4'46
Mick Box / Gary Thain
- BONUS TRACK -
10     Seven Stars [Extended Version] 7'01
Ken Hensley
11     Pilgrim [Extended Version] 8'26
David Byron / Ken Hensley
12     If I Had the Time [Ken Hensley Demo Version] 6'00
Ken Hensley
13     Sweet Freedom [Alternate Live Version] 6'47
Ken Hensley
14     Stealin' [Alternate Live Version] 5'41
Ken Hensley
Credits :
Bass – Gary Thain
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Lee Kerslake
Guitar – Mick Box
Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Ken Hensley
Vocals – David Byron