Veteran progressive heavy metal band Uriah Heep is releasing its first studio album in nearly 10 years on August 26, with plans to tour behind it in the U.S. and Canada early next year.
Recorded in 2007, the 11-track “Wake the Sleeper,” their 21st studio album, was produced by Mike Paxman (Status Quo, Judie Tzuke). It is the first studio album without their long-standing and original drummer, Lee Kerslake, who had to leave the band due to poor health in January 2007. The band brought in acclaimed drummer Russell Gilbrook (Tony Iommi/Black Sabbath, Van Morrison, John Farnham and Lonnie Donnegan) as his replacement. In addition to Gilbrook, the current band lineup is Mick Box (guitar), Trevor Bolder (bass), Phil Lanzon (keyboards) and Bernie Shaw (lead vocals).
Uriah Heep’s progressive heavy metal made the band one of the most notorious hard rock groups of the early ’70s. Initially formed by guitarist Box and vocalist David Bryon in the late ’60s, Uriah Heep’s debut album, “Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble,” was released in 1970. The album was simply called “Uriah Heep” in the U.S.
