Leroy Powell and The Messengers
Album: The Overlords Of The Cosmic Revelation
Label: Cleopatra
Tracks: 12
Website: http://lp.leroypowell.com

Once upon a time there were lots and lots of concept albums - anyone remember Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds?

Now as we hurtle through the 21st Century we are introduced to a full-blown cosmic rollercoaster by American songwriting guitarist Leroy Powell.

It is beautifully packaged with a comic book-style insert and great cover art.

Even the hyperbole of the accompanying Press release is hard to ignore, describing this album as "the greatest record ever recorded by anyone".

There is even some medical advice: "Talk to your doctor before listening to the Overlords."

With all of this in mind I buckled up for a test drive.

Immediately I was thrown into a world of surging synthesizers and overblown fuzzed up guitars as we began our space-truckin' adventure with Weightlessness which has a nicely spaced out vibe.

A great wall of sound greeted me on the melodic rocker Time Flies as the band went through the gears. There even more cosmic heavy rock in King Kong, sure to be a crowd pleaser.

The title track, The Overlords of Cosmic Revelation is a slow rocky ballad with great production and allows me to draw breathe before we are launched in more meaty rocking with screaming guitars on Rising.

With all this cosmic to-ing and fro-ing you half expect to see Flash Gordon coming riding over the horizon at any time.

The musicianship throughout is excellent. Brave New World is a more subtle, another slower instrumental. Lost In The Future kicks off with powerful drumming and into another rocker with lots of production. Liz is another a rocker but with a soft centre

Brainscan is another atmospheric instrumental featuring slide guitar.

Star is a softer song with gentle guitar and keys where we are advised keep our feet off the ground (naturally).

The big showpiece song to bring all this cosmic energy together is Death Machine, a riot of guitar, voices and keyboards.

Checking Out is a gentle end to this crazy cosmic rollercoaster ride which firmly delivers on its promise.

It may not be the best album ever recorded but this sure is an epic journey. Phew!

John Knighton