With Mike Pinera and Rhino, this is the absolute best version of the band, which isn't saying anything, if your only experience was the bogus '69 Live Atco Lp. Concerts in 70 & 71 displayed a band with a solid rhythm section, balanced by a flashy Lead/Slide player, Rhino, an old pal of the late Duane Allman. Doug Ingle & Mike Pinera belt out some strong baritone vocals. The harmonies on Stone Believer, Best Years of Life, are beautiful. Easy Rider, New Day, & Shady Lady show precise full body guitar, tracing back to the '67 Heavy debut, when Danny Weis played that Hendrix-killer guitar track on 'IB Theme'. Metamorphosis was overlooked, since the Live Atco Lp preceeded it, a marketing blunder. Within 6 months, the band was splitting, as Doug Ingle was leaving. Hear this great band in Denmark-LIVE 1/25/71, this CD w/ no mix, or Producer is ten times better than the Atco Record label botch job. "Butterfly Bleu" comes across far better live, than on Metamorphosis, thus the guitar voice bag needs the missing visual, it remains a low point, in audio. Pinera probably gets undue flack, for trying new ideas. It is a shame these five professional musicians have not performed together, in 35 years. Several half-baked 2-3 member reunions, but never the BIG BAND! Band-aid versions, missing the synergy of the five best members. I heard cuts, upon original LP release, bought shortly after, then read of the coming breakup, sad news. This is one of the five best LPs of 1970. Talent of amazing depth, with these five Metamorphosis members. They were skilled guys, who in the final months of Iron Butterfly, proved they could play interesting, creative hard rock music, LIVE.Read full review
The Metamorphosis line-up of Iron Butterfly was by far the best of any IB group that ever was recorded or graced the stage. This album was so far ahead of its time that even the best of today's hard rockers and metalheads don't stand a chance of even coming close to the musicianship and professionalism of this 1970 release. It's all there... from the great vocal harmonies to the dual guitar leads & experimentation (Talk Box), the intricate keyboard work, solid bass lines and powerful drum work. Probably the only album that even comes close is Captain Beyond's self-titled debut LP, which also featured Lee Dorman and Rhino. Long live Metamorphosis and Iron Butterfly
I remember burning this 8 track tape up in my youth. Mike Pinera is one of my all time favorite guitarists starting back in the Blues Image days. When he joined Doug Engle and the Iron Butterfly band, it just got better! Butterfly Blue is fantastic!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I loved the dual guitar leads in Iron Butterfly's final album. This CD is a real treat because I dont have hear the skipping that my vinyl record has. This may have the earliest recorded use of the "talk box". The talk box is the guitar effect pedal that Joe Walsh made famous on "Rocky Mountain Way".
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