Having broken up in 1972, burnt out following their lauded 1968-71 period during which they’d amassed multiple gold discs, earned millions by playing to millions and given the world one of its most enduring heavy rock anthems in Born To Be Wild, it
didn’t take too long for Steppenwolf to consider reconvening – especially once some serious money was lined up for a European tour.
The live shows naturally led to the recording on 1974’s Slow Flux, 1975’s Hour Of The Wolf and 1976’s Skullduggery, an arc of albums gradually declining in potency.
Featuring John Kay (vocals/guitar), Jerry Edmonton (drums/vocals), George Biondo (bass/vocals), Goldy McJohn (keyboards/vocals) and super-proficient Bobby Cochrane (lead guitar/vocals), Slow Flux is the tightest in terms of quality, yielding Steppenwolf’s last Top-30 hit in the Edmonton-penned Straight Shootin’ Woman.
A couple of interesting but inconsequential bonus cuts – the B-side Angeldrawers and a mono promotional mix of Caroline (Are You Ready For the Outlaw World) – fill out Hour Of The Wolf. But Skullduggery’s combination of covers and originals smacks of contractual obligation. There are gems to be found here – such as Gang War Blues and Justice Don’t Be Slow – but it’s a far cry from the iconic era of heavy metal thunder.
