Perhaps no rock band today has so consistently milked one stylistic trait—the wailing of vocalist David Byron and organist Ken Hensley over a maddeningly simple rhythm section—as has Uriah Heep. High and Mighty, thank God and all the muses, is the first Uriah Heep album in which other band members are allowed to step out front, the signature style is largely abandoned, and Ken Hensley's lyric inspirations seem to have come from elsewhere than the poetry section of a junior high school newspaper.

Guitarist Mick Box uses his first chance to step forward to build consistently strong solos; he carries the first two cuts himself. Box, along with bassist John Wetton and drummer Lee Kers-lake, also gets a chance to sing here, which has a definitely refreshing effect. (RS 221)

ALAN NIESTER