With their third album - many may consider it their second album proper, given the band's unusual step of releasing a live album as their debut! - 'Quo Vardis', the enigmatic Mr. Zodiac and his merry men - namely bassist Alan Selway and drummer Gary Pearson - found themselves in new, altogether more experimental territory, even going a far as to utilizing both a saxophone and a piano. As with other bands who attempted something a little different - Diamond Head's much maligned 'Canterbury' album springs to mind - there is a great deal here that should please the more open minded listener. The album still thunders along in no mean fashion, but there is a growing maturity to the songwriting on display that hints at where album number 4 may have taken us. That is now something we can only guess at. Amongst all the NWOBHM had to offer, Steve Zodiac and Vardis were totally unique. This album was as a good a way to sign off as any and its long overdue re-evaluation. You know it makes sense...