and really started to find their groove as a songwriting team with their second album together (and fourth release overall), . In fact, the last remaining folk and space rock tendencies that had stolen much of 's thunder are summarily abandoned here, as the group launches itself wholeheartedly toward the hard rock direction that would make them stars. The first step is taken by , of course, who confidently establishes the aggressive, biting guitar tone that would define all the releases of the band's glory years. kick off the album in rousing fashion, and while holding them under a microscope might reveal them as rather disposable slabs of hard rock, they would remain concert favorites for the band nonetheless. The punchy single sounds tailor-made for the American market and acoustic ballad is quite good, despite taking a dip in energy. But things only really start to gell on the album's second half. wheel out their most mature composition yet with the piano-led whose softer sections truly highlight 's highly disciplined, understated vocal style and make the guitar player's more restrained soloing all the more memorable. is soon back in charge, however, on the stuttering riffs and blistering fretboard work of and the downright vicious stop-start strut of -- both anthems. One of the band's best albums, will not disappoint lovers of '70s English hard rock. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia