1967/ 1976 Gary Moore has been one of my first listen, when I was a child. Song as "Don't Take Me For A Loser" or "Always Gonna Love You" was the best Metal song, for my Rock song conception when I was a child. Today remain in me the belief that they are still good songs. But Gary Moore was also other magical heavy metal song and magical Blues songs. But in 80's Gary Moore was a great Metal axeman. In this "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" These two songs are not included. But not for this fact I think that this compilation are not good. Because for me "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" is a good compilation if You do not know the Metal side of Gary Moore.

The first song is "Out In The Fields" with Phil Lynott at the vocals. This song is a pure Classic Rock/ Hard Rock song with all the ingredients of a pure hit, also if it is too close to a Thin Lizzy song. A good start song for all Classic Heavy Metal compilation and obviously great start song for this compilation. "Run For Cover" present a savago piano intro butI must say that it is one of the heaviest songs by Gary Moore, though very melodic. The sound of the guitar has a very compressed and distorted, in addition, the mix is all about explosive power that the writing of the song features. And then the chorus enters your brain (like the melody) and is imprinted forever! More bluesy is "All Messed Up," which is deliberately rougher and less bastard. But I like to do just that! "Shapes Of Things" is the cover of the Yardbirds hit. In this version this song remain similar to Jeff Beck Group version but with more power and technique, because with less Blues arrangement and with too Metal guitar sound (compressed and distorted guitar sound) and vocal interpretation. "Murder In The Sky" is a direct and powerful song and it must be said, also one of heavy metal songs by Gary Moore. Written to being a protest against the Soviet Union's shooting down of Korean Air Flight 007, "Murder In The Sky" is also an excellent song released from this motivation. "Cold Hearted" is a Slow Rock from "Corridors Of Power" but it is aged badly and today is only a Gary Moore song with a great guitar solo section. Vice versa "Rockin' Every Night" is a immortal Rock'n'roll song, without claims, but to recover the initial spirit of the Rock music. "Wishing Well" is the cover of the Free Hit. The live version from "Rockin Every Night- Live In Japan" is great too Heavy Metal as the studio version (also if this live version is more Heavy Metal for sound and interpretation). Remain a great version of a great and immortal song. "After The War" is a beautiful song, a little too POP for structure and use of instruments. However, "After The Wall" is an excellent example of 80's Hard Rock / Heavy Metal with (obviously) a great guiar solo. "Led Clones" (with Ozzy Osbourne) is a song that I can not swallow: Black Sabbath for structure and rhythm, Ozzy Osbourne for style andsound, Gary Moore for style guitar and Led Zeppelin in string instruments. A mix that can not digest. But the song is interesting. "Wild Frontier" is presented here in "After The War" 2002 live bonus track version. Great song, A great Irish Hard Rock Folk Rock song in Heavy Metal field, a great moment of music. "Back On The Steets" (here in "We Want Moore!" live version) is a perfect mix between Closseum II and Thin Lizzy and for this fact I classify this song as Fusion Heavy Metal.

In definitive vision "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" is a great compilation if you do not have nothing of 80's Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal production of Gary Moore. Vice versa this compilation does not present anything new.

1967/ 1976 I struggled to decide whether to put this compilation as a Traditional Metal Heavy Metal, or if I do not consider it. This compilation, in fact, is constructed on MCA Gary Moore and Colosseum II songs (MCA contracts from 1977 to 1979). Some factors have made me lean toward the decision to enter it as Traditional Heavy Metal. First factor: it was completed in 1987 and at that time Gary Moore was a Heavy Metal/ Hard Rock artist. Therefore, the second factor: the songs that are used from "Back On The Streets" album are fronm the Metal side of "Back On The Streets" album, although three are ballads. In Colosseum II section were looking for songs closer to the AOR or Hard Rock, although Jazz is still dominant. Third factor: In this compilation are presents Simon Phillips, Brian Downey, Don Airey and Phil Lynott. So there is bread for die-hard metalheads. Fourth factor: I know many heavy metal musicians (from different backgrounds... From the Classic Black) who knew this compilation and they assured me that he liked this compilation. Some of these musicians have recorded albums that have received good reviews.

The music contained on this CD is various but good for a Metalheads. "Back On The Streets" and "Fanatical Fascists" are two good Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal songs, good if NWoBHM is your genre. "Don't Believe A Word" and "Parisienne Walkways" are two ballads, not ower ballads because close to Jazz so that an AOR aficionado can not help but love them. Certainly also "Spanish Guitar" is good for an AOR aficionado, also if it is an acoustic ballad, close to POP and not all assimilable to a power ballad. All these three ballads are famous and a good Metalhead has no difficulty to accept and to recognize the magic that emanates.

The Colosseum II section is good for a open minded Prog Metaller (but not only). Basically is a great Rock/ Jazz fusion with guitar and keyboards in first plan. Similars to Ian Gillan bands songs but with Rock structure, except for the Jazzy ballad with vocals "Castle", these songs are very Hard for atmospheres and sound, not only guitar sound but also for synthesizers partitures.

Clearly "Parisienne Walkways is a boundary compilation in Traditional Heavy Metal field. But the music that is present in this compilation is good for a good classic/ Prog Metal Metalhead.

UMUR "Victims of the Future" is the 5th full-length studio album by UK heavy rock artist Gary Moore. The album was released in February 1984 by 10 Records ( in the UK).

The music on the album is AOR tinged heavy rock. Rather simple vers/ chorus structured heavy rock tracks containing few surprises. What the album does contain, is solid musicianship and a couple of great metal tinged tracks in the title track and especially Murder in the Skies. The rest is so and so, but nothing is downright awful. The production is very time typical. Thin, high end and reverb laden. Sometimes it sounds like Gary Moore recorded his vocal parts in an empty bathroom. The AOR part of the sound I mentioned above is especially heard in the choirs in the choruses and the plastic keyboard sounds. Again a very time typical feature. While Gary Moore rips through a couple of great solos during the album´s playing time, I wouldn´t call this a guitar dominated album by any means. I´d say the vocals are given just as much attention.

Hmm...Personally I can´t say "Victims of the Future" really impressed me much, for that there are too many generic AOR features in the music. The problem is not so much the AOR elements though, it´s the generic part. "Victims of the Future" don´t stand out enough from other similar releases from that time to be called anything but standard. It´s not bad but I can´t give more than a 2.5 star rating.