THE DEEP, raised from the ashes of DEEP MACHINE, has a story that goes back as far as 1982 when that band broke up due to internal differences with all the members going on to various other projects. In 2012, 4 of the 5 members of DEEP MACHINE came back together, and the release we are talking about here is the result of that. Now calling themselves THE DEEP, due to the name DEEP MACHINE being used by another band, the boys spent the better part of 3 years in the studio to bring to us what really is a great collection of music.

Featuring songs written back in 1982, as well as tracks written for vocalist Tony Coldham and guitarist Paul Smith's time in the band STRUTT, and as well a song written for Coldham and Smith's side project called THE RODFORD FILES, "Premonition" is steeped in the sounds of classic hard rock and NWOBHM. Think TYGERS OF PAN TANG meets WHITE WHIZZARD meets THIN LIZZY. The overall sound is fantastic; each instrument is clear, and the mixing incredible. Guitar riffs and hooks abound here, as are hard driving drums and bass that push each track forward, as rising above them are sensational harmonic vocals. For being an independent release, time was taken to produce a sound that is every bit as good as one released by a major studio. From the monster sound of the blistering opening track "The Rider," to the acoustic guitars of the closing track "Turn Me Loose," (which is just as killer of a track as one would hope to hear,) the landscape of the music of "Premonition" flows effortlessly and the product comes through hell bent on bringing to the listener a collection of tracks put together by a group of musicians who truly love playing music.

Listen (loudly) to the pure metal of "Nightstalker", a heavy-handed track that goes through various tempo changes with complex guitar hooks, and "You Take My Breath Away," with its vocal echoes had my head nodding non stop. The melodic hard rock of "All I Want" was excellent, a throwback to the 1970's era of the days when THIN LIZZY ruled the airwaves. The multifaceted guitar work of the title track was phenomenal, as was the bluesy "Spellbound."

Absolutely not a bad album to be heard. The songs are bombastic, the guitars heavy with solos and mountain sized hooks reeling the listener in. For lovers of hard rock, firmly planted within a frame of NWOBHM this is right up your alley. "Premonition" is truly some great stuff, for THE DEEP has done absolutely every right here.