Socrates' third album shifts from the blues rock of their first two albums to full throttle hard rock here. In some ways, On the Wings could be considered a distant cousin to the Icecross album. It's not quite as sinister, and Socrates hasn't quite yet abandoned its blues rock background, but there's no denying this is a pioneering album in the hard rock genre. I appreciate that Socrates occasionally uses Greek scales within their guitar melodies. This is a good one for fans of early 70s aggressive hard rock.
---9/3/24
In hearing the album for the first time in a decade I enjoyed a +1 listen. I was wondering why I had the lower grade having remembered this album as a blistering hard rock album way ahead of its time for 1973. I think part of the issue is that the last two tracks don't hold serve with the others, though neither are egregious just a bit more blues based than the rest. Highlights include 'Death is Gonna Die' (what a title) and 'Breakdown'. In addition to the Icecross reference above, one can hear the more raucous bands coming out of the German hard rock scene as well as Australia's Buffalo.
Ownership: CD: 1996 Polydor. Jewel case release.
The Peters International LP was likely to be the introduction for the majority of American collectors back in the day. I found mine at the Dallas Record show (1988). Sold it when the CD came out, though I wouldn't mind grabbing it again.
1988 (first listen); 2/2/14 (review / new entry); 9/3/24 (update)
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