An awesome rock album and an absolute must have in any music collection, so much so that it’s a regular and yet not a staple but a very exciting diet (listen) for me. You can just put your money down for it and go ahead and get it. Hours and hours of great listening pleasure on this one. The guitar in the hands of Ritchie Blackmore stands out as an individual performer on its own, the drums are just perfect, the piano is perfect and there so and so in the background without dominating too much and the songs and lyrics are just perfect, making this a great rock album without doubt.
Ritchie Blackmore, as all rock fans will know, was the founding member of two of the greatest rock bands in Deep Purple and Rainbow. His musical journey goes something like this, with Deep Purple from 1968-1975, with Rainbow from 1975-1984, back with Deep Purple from 1984-1993 and then back again with Rainbow from 1993-1997. It’s obvious to say the lineups changed throughout the years, but in 1997 Ritchie Blackmore left both Deep Purple and Rainbow for good and struck out on his own forming Blackmore’s Night in 1997 with his then fiancée and now wife Candice Night.
The album being reviewed here Stranger In Us All is from the year 1997 the second coming together of Rainbow before the final disbandment. The album through and through bears the stamp of Ritchie Blackmore not that the other performs don’t perform or don’t stand out, just that Ritchie Blackmore is just an awesome performer that he leaves his mark/stamp above all else. There are 10 tracks on this album and they will be familiar territory to Rainbow and Deep Purple fans alike, but also new territory is explored on this album. My pick from the album is Hunting Humans (Insatiable), a haunting melody played to a slow thumping beat/roll of the drums, very little else in the form of music or instruments with the guitar riff dominating above all else. This is a wonderful treat for all metal and rock fans. The 10 tracks featured on this album are –
- Wolf to the Moon.
- Cold Hearted Woman.
- Hunting Humans (Insatiable).
- Stand and Fight.
- Ariel.
- Too Late for Tears.
- Black Masquerade.
- Silence.
- Hall of the Mountain King.
- Still I’m Sad.
Let me tell you each of them is worth its weight making for a very satisfying outing with Ritchie Blackmore and the boys. The electric guitar though deserves special mention (as it does with Ritchie Blackmore at the helm). The only weak point would be the incessant weak drumming strewn about on the album, but its passable and overlooked when seen in the context of the album’s other strengths. As I have said time and again, an excellent album and worth every penny, very highly recommended.
You can purchase this album on Amazon at -
If this gets to through to Richie personally id be gratefull, Id just like to say I have followed Richies carreer through the years on vinal and cd. Ive seen Rainbow live in Liecester City at Granby Halls , a massive venue, in 1978, Blackmore Dio Powell Stone Daisley, awsome show, it blew me away, Cozy Powells drum solo was just amazing. and the rainbow lightshow, waow,, Asome richie. thank you, From Deep Purple to Rainbow and now Blackmores Night. Theirs no stopping this mans talant is there. He just goes on and on like a Master composer. love the Classical virtuoso peices you put into your lead breaks richie, never get tired of hearing your playing . Long Live Your Medevil music, its great what a lovely voice Cancice has. Im lookijng forward to seeing Blackmoes Night here touring UK. maybe in Liecester Granby Halls where I saw Rainbow have a great time if you come this way again. Bless you man. Hugh..MacNeil.