Realistically, if you're going into Fireball expecting what is essentially In Rock II, you should expect something that's a little bit more broad than that. With that being said, I do generally think the album's best moments are pretty indebted to the ideas on that album - opening track "Fireball" is a hell of a way to open the record that feels like an extension to "Speed King," although if you're thinking it's repetitious, you're wrong. One thing you won't be wrong about is the tightness of the band, as yet again Deep Purple kicks ass - Gillan's voice is still rough and powerful and soaring, the perfect matching with Blackmore's crunchy and distorted guitar playing. Jesus and God respectively. Ian Paice's drumming on this opening track is also amongst the best of any song they've done yet - it's frantic and smashing, rising in intensity and power as the song deems it necessary. Listen to that rhythm! Some of the other great album moments match this intensity, even if a few do fall a little bit on the line of repetition - one of my personal favorite moments on the album in "No No No" does feel very similar to the previous album's "Into the Fire," complete with Gillan's vocal delivery, rhythm, and the guitar riff - shout-out to Roger Glover's bass on this track, though. Heavy. The two closing tracks in "Fools" and "No One Came" are where you'll find the most of the album's worth, though, as they're just as bombastic and expansive as the greatest of In Rock - raise me a "Child in Time" and I'll raise you a "No One Came."
Now, with all this in mind, some moments do not deliver. The first side of the record, after opening strong with two excellent back-to-back tracks, fizzles out a bit with two weak and distinctly uninteresting tracks. "Strange Kind of Woman" is what we were slapped with here in the US and has effectively become the main song on reissues from what I can gather. This is in spite of the fact that it's a largely uninteresting blues romp that sits as easy pick for a weak point - meanwhile in Europe they had the punching "Demon's Eye" which is 1 minute longer and at least 10 times better. Moral of the story? Get a British pressing of the album. Unfortunately, no issue of this album can save you from the country-leaning dribble of "Anyone's Daughter." My issue not that they're trying something new, or even that it's done badly - they play their instruments well here for what it's worth. My real issue is that, out of every single genre they could've done or toyed with, country is probably the one I'd never want to hear from Deep Purple - I want some goddamn rock, man!
Ultimately, some weak moments drag down what is a pretty solid follow-up to In Rock. Really, what I think most people desire out of Mark II Deep Purple is some kickass rock and roll, and you will certainly find those cuts on Fireball from start to finish. Some weird experiments do kneecap points of the album, though, and those moments do leave it at a step below their previous work. Nevertheless, this is a band entering their prime of punching riffs, crashing drums, and flying vocals, and when Fireball can deliver on those expectations, you'll be leaving at least somewhat satisfied with the end product, even if not every single moment is as explosive as the bold title of the record.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to Fireball.
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