The promo sticker proclaims this record to be a masterpiece. While the album is excellent, "masterpiece" feels like an overstatement. If anything, the band plays it somewhat safe, but there are more than enough fireworks to keep listeners coming back for months. If =1 reinvented Deep Purple and successfully introduced Simon McBride as the band's new guitarist, Splat! feels more like another day at the office—but it's an office where things frequently catch on fire.
Splat! is a very solid record from a band that knows exactly how to rock. The performances are outstanding, the melodies are memorable, and the group has apparently mastered the art of coming up with delightfully tacky album titles. "Arrogant Boy" opens with a punch, immediately putting Deep Purple in full take-care-of-business mode. "Diablo" is where things really take off and is probably the album's standout track. The dialogue between Don Airey and Simon McBride is exhilarating, recalling the musical chemistry that made Deep Purple so dangerous in the early 1970s. "Guilt Trippin'" is another killer track, packed with classic Purple elements turned up to the max. It rocks hard. "Scriblin' Gib'rish" is simply a fun song, pairing a dark melodic foundation with clever lyrical wordplay. From beginning to end, Splat! delivers a thoroughly enjoyable 51-minute adventure.
What stands out most is just how much fun Deep Purple is having. The musical execution is superb, and Ian Gillan clearly relishes both his lyrics and the way he delivers them. His trademark sarcasm, wit, over-the-top sense of humor, and uniquely British eccentricity are woven throughout the album. Considering the advanced age of the band's core members, it's remarkable that they continue to produce records of this quality. Long may they continue.
Splat! doesn't reinvent Deep Purple or attempt to break new ground, but it further cements the legacy of one of rock's greatest bands. It's an engaging listen, full of unexpected twists and turns. Over the years, the band has also developed a gentler, more reflective side, and that dimension is very much present here. It provides a welcome balance to the heavier material and gives the album additional depth. Throughout Splat!, the joy of creating and playing music is unmistakable. As a listener, you can't help but share in that joy—and you'll want to return to it again and again.
Mark Kadzielawa
