I'm glad to see UH's Coquest, one of the most hated albums in their discography rated so high here on MS . I like the album, hardly one of their good works, but still enjoyable. Newcomer John Sloman's vocal performance was over the top, dragged down the album. Unfortunately Ken Hensley left the band after this album was released and a not well received tour (as Sloman could not fill neither Byron's nor Lawton's shoes, from what I've read).

I tried to give this album a chance, the vocals are horrible! lol

Well, it's listenable, but is it more than that? Initially I'd say: nah, it isn't. I don't find any really great songs, it is even difficult to find some good ones. I do what the first songs title "No Return" tells; I won't be returning to listen this album again.

Seems to be considered among their weakest albums and I understand why, it doesn't sound at all as UH and Sloman was not a great fit, sounding way off at places and I read that he refused to sing the vocal melodies as the writer intended. The production is also weird, especially the guitar is buried in the mix and the album lacks any punch, it's sad as UH usually have had great production. I don't think this album is as bad as some reviews try to make it out to be though. It's a solid second tier AOR album with some decent performance but as a whole it's not that exciting.

Written by majormalfunction on 20.04.2023 at 06:28

Seems to be considered among their weakest albums and I understand why, it doesn't sound at all as UH and Sloman was not a great fit, sounding way off at places and I read that he refused to sing the vocal melodies as the writer intended. The production is also weird, especially the guitar is buried in the mix and the album lacks any punch, it's sad as UH usually have had great production. I don't think this album is as bad as some reviews try to make it out to be though. It's a solid second tier AOR album with some decent performance but as a whole it's not that exciting.

it's the album that brought Hensley and Box apart for good. There are all sorts of stories around this album. I read a story that says that Peter Goalby was a replacement for Lawton at some point, but could not probably because he had commitments with Trapeze. A young Sloman came, rather inexperienced, although UH was not his first band. The guy could definitely sing, nevertheless he butchered a couple of songs on Conquest.

The departure of Hensley almost brought the band to the end (and I say almost because it didn't happen, Mick will reform UH). When Mick Box thought of reforming UH, he asked David Byron to come back but Byron completely refused. I guess he was happy on his own, having released his third album in 1981. But one wonders at what could have been if he made another UH album with Mick Box...

Written by JoHn Doe on 20.04.2023 at 10:42

it's the album that brought Hensley and Box apart for good. There are all sorts of stories around this album. I read a story that says that Peter Goalby was a replacement for Lawton at some point, but could not probably because he had commitments with Trapeze. A young Sloman came, rather inexperienced, although UH was not his first band. The guy could definitely sing, nevertheless he butchered a couple of songs on Conquest.

The departure of Hensley almost brought the band to the end (and I say almost because it didn't happen, Mick will reform UH). When Mick Box thought of reforming UH, he asked David Byron to come back but Byron completely refused. I guess he was happy on his own, having released his third album in 1981. But one wonders at what could have been if he made another UH album with Mick Box...

Thanks for the history. It seems to have been a quite chaotic time. Another with Byron would have been so sweet and maybe it would have taken them into another direction.

Written by majormalfunction on 20.04.2023 at 13:57

Written by JoHn Doe on 20.04.2023 at 10:42

it's the album that brought Hensley and Box apart for good. There are all sorts of stories around this album. I read a story that says that Peter Goalby was a replacement for Lawton at some point, but could not probably because he had commitments with Trapeze. A young Sloman came, rather inexperienced, although UH was not his first band. The guy could definitely sing, nevertheless he butchered a couple of songs on Conquest.

The departure of Hensley almost brought the band to the end (and I say almost because it didn't happen, Mick will reform UH). When Mick Box thought of reforming UH, he asked David Byron to come back but Byron completely refused. I guess he was happy on his own, having released his third album in 1981. But one wonders at what could have been if he made another UH album with Mick Box...

Thanks for the history. It seems to have been a quite chaotic time. Another with Byron would have been so sweet and maybe it would have taken them into another direction.

I don't know what direction would that have been. I think the newly formed UH that released Abominog went in the right direction. At least for a while.

Written by JoHn Doe on 20.04.2023 at 14:47

I don't know what direction would that have been. I think the newly formed UH that released Abominog went in the right direction. At least for a while.

I was thinking maybe they would have tried to go back to their hard rock roots, Probably not though, considering the music climate at the time.