As far as homegrown prog bands went (with a couple exceptions), 1970's America was the home of the brave but doomed. Leviathan was one act that actually managed to get one proper album release before disappearing, probably to secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of not starving to death. Not as derivative of big-name British acts as most of their contemporaries, Leviathan's release (LP Mach Records AMA 12501) instead demonstrates how much more blurred the line between heavy metal and progressive rock had already become in the Colonies than in the Old Blighty.
The opening track "Arabesque" is rife with crunchy guitar riffs, stomping drums and bass, and bluesy vocal melodies delivered with hard rock's throaty harshness and occasional caught-meself-in-the-zipper yells. On the other hand, these are interspersed with a more delicate and harmonically complex sections with acoustic guitar, quick organ cadenzas and especially swirling Mellotron swells. The effect resembles some of Kansas' early works, though the writing is less adventurous and the playing less dynamic. The rest of the album pendulates between these two elements, searching for a right balance with variable success.
On "Seagull" the effect created by the mellifluous middle section full of liquid piano and Mellotron strings and woodwinds in what is otherwise just a slow-grinding, chugalong rock tune is a bit too cut and paste to avoid sounding contrived. Others mix ingredients with greater skill, either giving a straight-forward song a rich prog-style coating and melodic shine ("Always Need You") or using heavy guitar and rhythm section for impressive dynamic swells on an otherwise brooding, classical composition ("Endless Dream"). "Angel of Death" pretty much ditches the prog element, and sounds much smoother - and duller - as a result. The other extreme is the gentle, non-metallic ballad "Angela", which is saved from MOR mundanity by a small but nice harmonic modulation and a frothy use of acoustic guitar and lapping Mellotron strings. It all finally comes together on the closer "Quicksilver Clay", a quite stylish amalgamation of progressive melodic and instrumental richness, and the vigour of an underlying metal base.
It's too bad things don't click more often, because it results in an unbalanced, lopsided album. Admittedly, I am not a fan of the metal style, but when it works, the synthesis of old-style heavy guitar and Mellotron as displayed here is quite novel and charming - certainly enough to make this album worthwhile. Those into heavy prog in the old sense of the word, without thrash riffs, neo-classical shredding or double bass drum havoc, should definitely investigate this one.
by Kai Karmanheimo
Tracks
1. Arabesque - 6:15
2. Angela - 6:40
3. Endless Dream - 9:58
4. Seagull - 5:00
5. Angel of Death - 4:07
6. Always Need You - 3:22
7. Quicksilver Clay - 7:28
8. Why I Must Be Like You - 3:00
9. I'll Get Lost Out There - 3:42
All compositions by Leviathan
Leviathan
*Wain Bradley - Bass, Guitars, Vocals
*Peter Richardson - Organ, Vocals
*Don Swearingen - Piano
*Grady Trimble - Guitars
*John Sadler - Mellotron
*Shof Beavers - Drums
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The band existed in the first half of the 70s; issued only one album in 1974 and broke away early in the second half of the decade again. Some of the band members were then apparently involved in no less obscure formation Companion, which has released an album. Formed out of the ashes of the Little Rock Arkansas-based E. Bartlett, by 1973 the band had relocated to Memphis and adopted the name Leviathan.
ReplyDeleteLeviathan actually had everything to succeed: Very decent singer, a talented guitarist, a strong rhythm section and three imaginative keyboardist. The compositions were not overly complex, but the whole thing is orchestrated very colorful and definitely had commercial potential. Particularly not been successful, but the Texans. Although the band performed as an opening act in the mid 70s to the ELO, but their only album was unlikely to anyone buy. "Leviathan" has basically time typical hard rock song with appropriate and most formative organ Hammond electric guitar processing, which is based more on British models (Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin ... etc.), but because of the locally occurring , polyphonic choral singing but very American sounds. Nothing special really, but what "Leviathan" is distinguished in progressive ways, the frequent occurrence of a mellotron.
The album starts strong and rather prog. "Arabesque" provides rich mellotron strings, bells, percussion, acoustic and threatening then electric guitars. After one and a half minutes, the whole thing vibrates but at the above indicated Hard Rock, driven by the powerful bass, luscious organ relapses and the bluesy, rocking guitars, and provided with almost Robert Plant vocals. Sandwiched be also implied by the contemplative flute-Mellotron, strings, mellotron rich, classical piano or organ ends afloat runs embossed sections. The second interesting for piece is, after mellotron-drenched ballad "Angels", the long "Endless Dream". This work over nearly 10 minutes, the progressive keys (mellotron, organ, piano) ahead sounded formative, punctuated by heavier deposits of bass and electric guitar, and by the varied percussion together rhythmically.
The rest of the album has then hardly remarkable. Very ordinary (hard) rock diet is, however, occurs repeatedly in the favorite instrument of Prog approaches or painting. Who, however, like the classic rock of the 70 coming forth approaching the prog, or appreciates the early albums of Kansas can listen here quite a time. Leviathan would not necessarily sound very much like the latter, but in concept are quite common there. Oh, and the cover is very prog!
@Marios,thanks for this edition (I have Akarma)
I'm so glad to see this album with bonus tracks.Thank you"MARIOS"...
ReplyDeleteCheers for this one!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot...
ReplyDeleteSaw these guys way back when in Atlanta. Haven’t thought about them since till I stumbled on to this blog. All I remember is that they had three guys on keyboards. Can’t even remember who they opened for.
ReplyDelete