"There's more screaming on this record than l've done in thirty years!" - IAN GILLAN, September '91.
He's not kidding. There are vocal performances on Toolbox of such lung-bursting power, you'll be reaching for the aspirins in double quick time. But is the legendary Gillan larynx the sole motivating force behind his latest album?
As it happens, no. The partnership with guitarist Steve Morris has grown into a mighty musical force, constantly proved by Steve's lightening licks and quicksilver salvos. Throughout the eleven tracks, his playing is melodic, bluesy, soulful and intensely powerful, tight but never restrictive or cliched.
In fact, the musicianship on display here is totally exemplary. The partnership of Leonard (ex-Y&T) Haze, and Brett (ex-STARSHIP) Bloomfield stamp Toolbox with a potent mix of subtle rhythmic undercurrents and vibrant syncopated patterns. Though BB's four string hammering could've been a little higher in an otherwise well-balanced mix.
As for the songs, it's a mixed bag we've got here. The Leslie West co-written "Hang Me Out To Dry" is pleasantly redolent of his mountainous (sic) origins. "Candy Horizon" motors along with a hard rockin' fluency. "Don't Hold Me Back" takes melancholia up into quasi-Metal territory. "Pictures Of Hell" gallops past with finely tuned intensity. "Bed Of Nails", harks back to the GILLAN/GLOVER union, as does "Gassed Up." Whereas "Everything I Need" drips with pure blues.
Unfortunately, the remaining four tracks lack the cohesion and flow for a necessary "grade A" album. The legend still lives but the glory days are a thing of the past
GRADE B
Lyn Guy
Riff Raff
November, 1991
He's not kidding. There are vocal performances on Toolbox of such lung-bursting power, you'll be reaching for the aspirins in double quick time. But is the legendary Gillan larynx the sole motivating force behind his latest album?
As it happens, no. The partnership with guitarist Steve Morris has grown into a mighty musical force, constantly proved by Steve's lightening licks and quicksilver salvos. Throughout the eleven tracks, his playing is melodic, bluesy, soulful and intensely powerful, tight but never restrictive or cliched.
In fact, the musicianship on display here is totally exemplary. The partnership of Leonard (ex-Y&T) Haze, and Brett (ex-STARSHIP) Bloomfield stamp Toolbox with a potent mix of subtle rhythmic undercurrents and vibrant syncopated patterns. Though BB's four string hammering could've been a little higher in an otherwise well-balanced mix.
As for the songs, it's a mixed bag we've got here. The Leslie West co-written "Hang Me Out To Dry" is pleasantly redolent of his mountainous (sic) origins. "Candy Horizon" motors along with a hard rockin' fluency. "Don't Hold Me Back" takes melancholia up into quasi-Metal territory. "Pictures Of Hell" gallops past with finely tuned intensity. "Bed Of Nails", harks back to the GILLAN/GLOVER union, as does "Gassed Up." Whereas "Everything I Need" drips with pure blues.
Unfortunately, the remaining four tracks lack the cohesion and flow for a necessary "grade A" album. The legend still lives but the glory days are a thing of the past
GRADE B
Lyn Guy
Riff Raff
November, 1991
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