Rose – Judgement Day

Largely consisting of material left over from debut Rose album ‘A Taste Of Neptune’, this is a very appealing pomp album and while not up to the same lofty standards as Avalon or Zon, it has more than its share of solid moments.

Written by: Eric

ARTIST: Rose
ALBUM: Judgement Day
LABEL: Polydor
SERIAL: 2424 168
YEAR: 1977
CD INFO: Discogs Info List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

LINEUP: Brian Allen – guitars, vocals * James Fox – drums, percussion, vocals * Ron Glatley – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals * Gary Lalonde – bass, moog pedals, vocals

Additional Musicians: Annie Woods – vocals

TRACK LISTING: 01 Between The Lines * 02 Too Beautiful * 03 Johnny Law * 04 Dealer * 05 Recession, Depression * 06 Whirling Dervish * 07 Tender Is The Night * 08 The Magic Of Holidays * 09 Marionette * 10 On Judgement Day

Background

Quite some time ago, George gave a good overview of the Rose story in his piece on the band’s previous album ‘A Taste Of Neptune’. I don’t have much to add other than Rose gigged extensively throughout Canada as a headliner, picking up the occasional support slot with Spirit and others while making sporadic trips into the U.S. which ultimately proved fruitless.

‘Judgement Day’ was the band’s last album and they couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate title. With no hit singles and lukewarm sales, Polydor’s patience came to an end and the decision was made to drop the band from their roster.

The Songs

Largely consisting of material left over from ‘A Taste Of Neptune’, this is a very appealing pomp album and while not up to the same lofty standards as Avalon or Zon, it has more than its share of solid moments. ‘Between The Lines’ is first up with lots of proggy keys and a fluffy chorus while ‘Too Beautiful’ sounds like one of those killer ballads that dotted the early Trooper albums.

Nicely done and the appearance of Annie Woods aka Holly Woods on ‘Johnny Law’ is of interest although here she’s essentially a back-up vocalist and barely recognizable until the song’s drawn-out finale. A little James Young of Styx on ‘Dealer’ and a lot of Queen on ‘Recession, Depression’ and based on the first side I wonder why Canadians didn’t buy this album in droves?

On the reverse ‘Whirling Dervish’ and future Toronto/Honeymoon Suite bassist Gary Lalonde’s ‘Tender Is The Night’ continues the album’s high marks although with a song title like ‘The Magic Of Holidays’ you’d be forgiven expecting the worst but it’s actually short of cheese and very pleasant, again reminiscent of Queen and that’s always a good thing in my book.

‘On Judgement Day’ rumbles its way to the albums close with a Uriah Heep meets Styx hard prog assault and despite Rose lacking all-important originality, you certainly couldn’t fault the boys for giving it their best shot.

In Summary

From here Brian Allen and James Fox reconnected with Holly (Annie) Woods, forming Toronto and as they say – the rest is history. Never on CD, why the Korean’s didn’t go further following their ‘A Taste Of Neptune’ reissue is a mystery as ‘Judgement Day’ is just as charming a relic and should have a place in every serious pomp lover’s collection.

Rose on Video

Marionette