Death Walks Behind You

Death Walks Behind You
Studio album by Atomic Rooster
Released	September 1970
Recorded	August 1970
Genre	Progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Length	45:27
Label	B&C (original UK release) Elektra (original USA release) Philips (original German release) Repertoire (1990 & 2006 German reissues) Akarma (2006 Italian reissue)
Producer	Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster chronology
Atomic Roooster (1970) Death Walks Behind You (1970) In Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971)

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Review scores
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Allmusic	link

Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was their first album to receive US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and Paul Hammond. It is certainly, critically and commercially, their most successful album and often hailed as a classic of the progressive rock genre. It also produced the hit single "Tomorrow Night" (UK #11), which became one of the band's best-known songs. The album's cover features the William Blake monotype Nebuchadnezzar.

The title track was covered on record in 1992 by Paradise Lost, in 2000 by Bigelf (on their album Money Machine) and in 2012 by Swedish death metal band NonExist.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Death Walks Behind You" (Cann, Crane) 7:28
2. "Vug" (Crane) 4:57
3. "Tomorrow Night" (Crane) 3:56
4. "7 Streets" (Cann) 6:40

Side two

1. "Sleeping for Years" (Cann) 5:24
2. "I Can't Take No More" (Cann) 3:32
3. "Nobody Else" (Crane, Cann) 4:58
4. "Gershatzer" (Crane) 7:58

2004 Castle Music CD reissue bonus tracks

1. "Play the Game" (Cann) 4:42 - "Tomorrow Night" B-side 1971
2. "The Devil's Answer" (Cann) 3:59 – demo with Carl Palmer 1970
3. "Tomorrow Night" (Crane) 5:28 - BBC Radio Session 1971
4. "Shabooloo" aka "Before Tomorrow" (Crane, Cann) 6:05 - BBC Radio Session 1971
5. "Death Walks Behind You" (Crane, Cann) 6:06 - BBC Radio Session 1971
6. "Devil's Answer" (Cann) 3:26 - original single version 1971

2006 Akarma Records unlicensed CD reissue bonus tracks

1. "Tomorrow Night" 5:27 - BBC Radio Session 1971
2. "Shabooloo" (Crane, Cann) 6:10 - BBC Radio Session 1971
3. "Death Walks Behind You" (Crane, Cann) 6:04 - BBC Radio Session 1971
4. "The Rock" (Crane) 4:32 - In Hearing of Atomic Rooster album track

Personnel (original album)

• John Du Cann: guitars, lead vocals, bass
• Vincent Crane: Hammond organ, backing vocals, piano
• Paul Hammond: drums, percussion

Reception

In a review special, Prog-Sphere.com writes that "though not exactly flawless, Death Walks Behind You is an impressive offering that is almost a must-listen for Hammond fans and anyone who likes their prog with a harder edge (though not necessarily metal). A fascinating, almost addictive album by an underrated band, whose long but chequered career ended tragically with Vincent Crane’s death in 1989."^[1]

References

The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4