SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEEP PURPLE – SPLAT!

DEEP PURPLE
SPLAT!
EARMUSIC

Splat! is Deep Purple’s 24th studio album, and their first since 2024’s hugely successful =1. The band features three of the classic line-up of the band, Ian Paice (drums), Roger Glover (bass), and Ian Gillan (vocals). The band also features former Rainbow member, Don Airey (keyboards) who has been with the band since 2002 and relative newcomer, Simon McBride (guitars). The album was produced by Bob Ezrin,

Gillan has not lost any power in his voice, and Glover and Paice provide the perfect rhythm section for this music. Airey is extremely good at capturing that Deep Purple keyboard sound and it is that instrument that almost defines Deep Purple’s sound. It certainly fills out each and every song. McBride also brings his A-game to the proceedings with his intricate, fast and tasteful solos.

The beautiful piano intro of “Guilt Trippin’” which then slides into classic Deep Purple sound, with that stellar guitar and classic organ sound. The vocals in this song (best enjoyed on headphones) is absolutely brilliant. “The Lunatic,” for example, is very heavy, still great keyboard playing, but it is much more of a hard rock song than others on the album. “Sacred Land” has touches of prog rock, especially the Celtic-inspired opening. It all works.

Splat! takes many twists and turns throughout the album. While one could describe it as hard rock, and it is one of their hardest albums in many years, that does not mean it is just a rocker. Deep Purple are saying a great deal about this album, musically and lyrically. It is the sound of elder statesmen continuing to re-establish themselves in their rightful position. This is one of Deep Purple’s strongest albums, not just in the last decade, but in their history.

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