There's no problem at all in using old formulas of the past to create music, but one must have in mind that personality is needed in such cases, because no one can live stepping on others footprints (it could be a pimp-like thing, you know). But some guys have guts to use the old formulas, the very same old clichés and elements and bring something really excellent, something that deserves applauses. It's the case of Avi Rosenfeld, the six-string ace of Israel, and here he is with "Very Heepy Very Purple XIV". The music is a form of Hard Rock heavily influenced by titans as DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP (the name of the album isn't a mere coincidence), a form of music that's organic, technical (without sounding as an egocentric and priggish thing), based on excellent duets between guitars and keyboards (the sound of the old Hammond is truly hard to be confounded), solid bass guitar and drums rhythms, excellent vocals (the legendary singer Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin of JAG PANZER on "Black Rocks", Dyan of BONFIRE on "Total War", and Damond Jiniya of SAVATAGE on "Fire and Ice" are some to show the level of the songs).

Stylistically, this genre isn't new at all, but in the hands of Avi and his comrades, things become new, fresh and really amazing! The sonority is something organic that emulates the same used by Hard Rock and Heavy Metal legends during the 70s (a feeling reinforced by the Hammond's presence), without endless editions, and with things working in a very good way, but in a way that's defined. One can hear and understand easily without complains, and it's really a good job (especially if one can see the list of people who is on the album, one will see a vast set of nationalities, with music being the only language used).

All the songs are really excellent, and the right ones for the first time on the album are "I Got a Riff" (a Hard Rock song with clear traces of classic Rock 'n' Roll on its melodies and an excellent chorus, with excellent riffs and Hammond parts and singing), "Fire and Ice" (here one can feel the same Hard 'n' Roll essence of acts as RAINBOW and URIAH HEEP, with a solid work on bass guitar and drums, and excellent vocals once more), "In the Mass Grave" (a sad and Blues-influenced ballad, with excellent Hammond's moments), "Marching Through the Gates" (again a powerful Hard Rock song can be heard, but with a more heavier orientation, especially on the guitar riffs and melodic solos), "Total War" (the 'noir' Hard Rock feeling is clear to the ears, with a solid and excellent instrumental sheath), "Dragons" (the energy of Heavy Metal is clear on the song's ambiences), and "Black Rocks" (a crude and melodic song, with a slow paced set of tempos that allows the clear understanding of bass guitar arrangements, and what lovely singing, indeed). But the entire album is very good and easy to love.

Again Avi Rosenfeld created a very good album with the right partners and friends, so spin "Very Heepy Very Purple XIV" as many as you can, because you be addicted to it easily!