The Battle Rages On...

Performer: Deep Purple
Producer: Thom Panunzio; Roger Glover
Distributor: MSI Music Distribution

Notes: Deep Purple: Ian Gillan (vocals); Richie Blackmore (guitar); Jon Lord (keyboards); Roger Glover (bass); Ian Paice (drums). Personality clashes are as much a part of Deep Purple as Ritchie Blackmore's penchant for black clothing. A revolving door of members has resulted in different lineups being given their own labels. The most popular version of Purple has always been the Mark II model: Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice. This particular quintet has gotten together and had members leave in each of the past three decades. THE BATTLE RAGES ON is that lineup's contribution to the '90s. Following a brief stint where former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner sang lead for Purple on the prior MASTERS AND SLAVES, Gillan returned for another go round in 1993. Personal differences aside, BATTLE picks up on the kind of chemistry that made albums like MACHINE HEAD and PERFECT STRANGERS classics. Three decades on, Blackmore's range on guitar is still impressive as he goes from playing with an arrogant swagger on "One Man's Meat" to a fleet-fingered flamenco intro that kicks off the epic "Anya." Elsewhere, "A Twist in the Tale" plays out with the same kind of intensity as "Highway Star" while the hard-driving title track proved to be prophetic as Gillan again departed over differences with Blackmore.

Q (9/93, p.81) - 3 Stars - Good - "...THE BATTLE RAGES ON is the most persuasive bid yet to recover the colonies....No MACHINE HEAD, but at least a partial return to form..."

One of the longest running and most prolific of hard rock/proto-heavy-metal bands, Deep Purple appeared in the wake of the psychedelic era, sporting a harder sound than anything that had come before. The classic 1970s lineup (featuring virtuoso guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, wailing tenor Ian Gillan, and classically influenced keyboardist Jon Lord) established the template for countless metal bands that followed in their wake. They went through numerous lineup changes over the years, with singers David Coverdale and Joe Lynn Turner and guitarists Tommy Bolin and Steve Morse all passing through the ranks. Since the 1980s, sporadic reunions have found key members returning to the fold.

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