Lucifer’s Friend
Too Late to Hate
Independent Release
2016
Well, I just couldn’t see that coming – and it hit me like a rock! Who would expect Lucifer’s Friend to return with a brand new studio album that features 3 out of 5 original members? Vocalist John Lawton, guitarist Peter Hesslein & bassist Dieter Horns are the 3 original members that are participating in the new album. Keyboardist Peter Hect could have been part of this album but he didn’t do so for his own reasons. As for the original drummer Joachim “Addi” Reitenbach, unfortunately he passed away a few years ago. Hence, the drummer’s & the keyboardist’s positions have been covered by Stephan Eggart and Jogi Wichmann respectively.
In case you haven’t realized it yet, “Too Late to Hate” is the band’s new studio album in 35 years! The last album that was released under the name Lucifer’s Friend was “Mean Machine” in 1981. After that album they disbanded. In 1994 John & Peter released “Sumo Grip”, under the name Lucifer’s Friend II, but they didn’t continue after that. Lucifer’s Friend was formed in 1970 (an actual reform from Asterix) and they are one of the most underrated and most significant heavy prog rock bands in music history. In 1976 John joined Uriah Heep and released 3 studio albums with them. That’s in brief some historical points about this band that has offered so much to rock music generally and they never got the recognition they deserved.
Musically, the band honors their 70s classic rock & hard rock roots, along with a few melodic rock/AOR, & prog rock elements. The sound also balances between the old & the new era but without being retro neither modern. Something in-between… personally, it kinda reminded me of the late 80s production but with an updated essence. This is the kind of sound an album such as this should have.
Furthermore, I must also say that John’s performances are simply amazing. I do not know how he does it, but the man is truly one of a kind. After all, he used to be (and he still is) one of the top voices in rock music. Peter’s guitar is on fire – he sounds imposing as well. Similarly, the other guys are on the same page..
As for the tracks, there are plenty to satisfy all kind of tastes. The standout tracks are: the astounding catchy melodic rocker “I Will Be There”, the heartfelt “When Children Cry” and the 70s hard rocker “Seas of Promises”. Likewise, the rockin’ opener “Demolition Man”, the straightforward “Straight to the Heart”, the heavy rocker “Tell Me Why” and the bluesy “This Time” are (all) fabulous.
Honestly, I hope that other bands too will decide to come back to action after so many years to release such well-crafted albums like “Too Late to Hate”. The band’s old fans as well as the old-school rockers will revel in this album. As for the young ones, it’s never too late to “discover” Lucifer’s Friend, even by this album, and then check their back-catalogue. Either way you see it, “Too Late to Hate” is an album that won’t leave unsatisfied all those who fancy rock music in general…
In case you haven’t realized it yet, “Too Late to Hate” is the band’s new studio album in 35 years! The last album that was released under the name Lucifer’s Friend was “Mean Machine” in 1981. After that album they disbanded. In 1994 John & Peter released “Sumo Grip”, under the name Lucifer’s Friend II, but they didn’t continue after that. Lucifer’s Friend was formed in 1970 (an actual reform from Asterix) and they are one of the most underrated and most significant heavy prog rock bands in music history. In 1976 John joined Uriah Heep and released 3 studio albums with them. That’s in brief some historical points about this band that has offered so much to rock music generally and they never got the recognition they deserved.
Musically, the band honors their 70s classic rock & hard rock roots, along with a few melodic rock/AOR, & prog rock elements. The sound also balances between the old & the new era but without being retro neither modern. Something in-between… personally, it kinda reminded me of the late 80s production but with an updated essence. This is the kind of sound an album such as this should have.
Furthermore, I must also say that John’s performances are simply amazing. I do not know how he does it, but the man is truly one of a kind. After all, he used to be (and he still is) one of the top voices in rock music. Peter’s guitar is on fire – he sounds imposing as well. Similarly, the other guys are on the same page..
As for the tracks, there are plenty to satisfy all kind of tastes. The standout tracks are: the astounding catchy melodic rocker “I Will Be There”, the heartfelt “When Children Cry” and the 70s hard rocker “Seas of Promises”. Likewise, the rockin’ opener “Demolition Man”, the straightforward “Straight to the Heart”, the heavy rocker “Tell Me Why” and the bluesy “This Time” are (all) fabulous.
Honestly, I hope that other bands too will decide to come back to action after so many years to release such well-crafted albums like “Too Late to Hate”. The band’s old fans as well as the old-school rockers will revel in this album. As for the young ones, it’s never too late to “discover” Lucifer’s Friend, even by this album, and then check their back-catalogue. Either way you see it, “Too Late to Hate” is an album that won’t leave unsatisfied all those who fancy rock music in general…