Armageddon was formed by ex-Yardbirds/Renaissance vocalist Keith Relf along with ex-Captain Beyond drummer Bobby Caldwell and former members of Steamhammer, guitarist Martin Pugh and bassist Louis Cennamo. Although they only managed to release this single album, its certainly of great interest to classic rock aficionados within its 42 minutes of playing length. Opening track, Buzzard, begins with an earnest and frantic time signature and Martin Pugh's guitar attack is readily apparent and to the fore, featuring a distorted wah-wah effect that introduces the main driving force of the song itself. Coupled by Caldwell's solid, swift and steady beats and Cennamo's smooth and dexterous bass playing, once Relf begins his vocal lines, the listener is drawn into the band's scope of sound. After Pugh finishes up a blistering solo, Relf adds a harmonica solo before the song's fiery refrain, leading into the second number Silver Tightrope. This track is a softer number that features a dynamic vocal from Keith and some beautiful electric guitar tones emanating from Martin Pugh's fingers; in some ways, this song reminds me of the simpler moments in the music of Yes and Jon Anderson and I would say Silver Tightrope is certainly one of the more memorable numbers on offer here as a result.

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Paths, Planes and Future gains is the shortest number on this record that features a hard edge style that's upbeat and angst, similar to the opening number Buzzard. Once again, Martin Pughs' guitar playing is the focal point here and he displays his wares accordingly. Bobby Caldwell's drumming is quite the equal plus here as his rhythm patterns remain interesting and tasteful, similar to what he had done in Captain Beyond previously. Last Stand Before follows and is quite a boogie-rocker but seems to lose a bit of flavor and focus halfway through the end of its eight minutes plus length despite the harmonica and guitar "call and response" style that is tagged on to its fade out. Armageddon's sole debut ends with an eleven and a half "tour-de-force" in Medley: Basking in the White of the Midnight Sun. It's broken into 4 parts with the minute long intro begun by the ensemble with an urgency and hard rock speed that introduces the main theme of "the Midnight Sun". Part 3 entitled "Brother Ego", is a slower, groovier bit that slithers and slides rather effortlessly through the "in the pocket" hands of the rhythm section of Caldwell and Cennamo, carried by Martin Pugh's sinewy and biting lead guitar lines. Ending back to the reprise, Midnight Sun remains a solid closing number to a record that has a harder-edged bent to its ilk and its certainly the closest that Keith Relf came to doing a project that mined the same territory his former cohort in the Yardbirds, Mr. Jimmy Page, had then presently, been enjoying massive success with his band, Led Zeppelin.

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Records like this deserve a listen and acknowledgement as to their interesting and "lost gem" qualities. Captain Beyond's debut album is certainly within this realm as well. Its a shame that Relf wasn't strong enough, physically, to sustain touring behind this record and as a result, despite the praise of critical acclaim,  it virtually vanished without a trace. I felt the need to post this review because I do like the record, despite a few minor hiccups like the previously mentioned Last Stand Before, for the most part, this is a stone solid record. Check it out.

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Rating Grade- A