Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

The career of this Stockport band almost mirrored the rise of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and the resurgence of heavy rock in the face of the onslaught of the energy of punk. Having gained respect with a Norman Barratt produced debut album, the band, fronted by singer/guitarist Charlie Wilson, decided to be much more involved on the production side of this follow up. Consequently, they probably over egg the pudding but the album did gain them wider success in the USA because of the more polished sound. The band were always a hard working live act and gained a considerable following in the UK and headlined Greenbelt in 1983, the year 'Power And The Glory' was released. The addition of keyboards broadens their sound and the inclusion here of an instrumental version of "Jesus Loves Me" sees them not sticking to material that would strictly be considered metal. Highlights include the title track which is a bit of an epic including sound effects! "Out Of Bounds" rocks along at a fair pace and "Don't You Know" reminds me a little of another UK rock band of the same era, UFO. Released on bright yellow vinyl in the USA, this album remains a classic of the era for those in the know. Over a quarter of a century later, it's travelled pretty well and fans of classic rock should seek it out.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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