Iron Butterfly - Metamorphosis with Pinera and Rhino 12" Vinyl LP Album

1970. The Summer of Love is a distant memory, Altamont's a fresh wound, and the dream of peace and love is lying in tatters. Enter Iron Butterfly, a band who once rode the psychedelic wave with their behemoth In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Now, they're back with Metamorphosis, a record that's less a transformation and more a band desperately flailing for relevance.

Gone is the monolithic, organ-driven sound of their earlier work. In its place, a watered-down concoction of pop sensibilities and half-baked experimentation. It's as if the band traded their acid-laced Kool-Aid for a lukewarm cup of conformity. This drastic shift in sound divided fans, with some embracing the new direction and others lamenting the loss of the band's psychedelic edge.

New additions Pinera and Rhino brought a Latin-tinged, progressive flavor to the mix, but it clashes with the band's established sound. "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)" is a prime example, a meandering tune that sounds like Santana jamming with a bunch of accountants. Despite the mixed reception, "Easy Rider" became a minor hit and remains a popular deep cut among Iron Butterfly fans.

Even the production, helmed by the band themselves, feels sterile and uninspired. Recorded at American Recording Company, the album lacks the raw energy of their earlier work. It's as if the band was more concerned with fitting in than breaking new ground. Some critics praised the album's cleaner production values, while others yearned for the gritty sound of the band's earlier releases.

The whole thing reeks of compromise, a desperate attempt to stay afloat in a changing musical landscape. "Butterfly Bleu" is a blatant attempt at a radio hit, sacrificing the band's trademark heaviness for a saccharine melody. It's a sad sight, like watching a once-mighty lion reduced to begging for scraps. The album's cover art, featuring a kaleidoscopic butterfly, sparked debate among fans, with some finding it visually striking and others dismissing it as a poor imitation of their earlier psychedelic imagery.

And the lyrics? Forget any profound musings on the human condition. We're treated to lines like "I'm a butterfly, I'm a butterfly bleu," which wouldn't sound out of place in a jingle for laundry detergent. It's embarrassing, man, a band once known for their psychedelic explorations now reduced to peddling lyrical clichés. The nonsensical lyrics of "Butterfly Bleu" became a source of amusement and derision for some fans, while others interpreted them as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the band's changing identity.

Of course, the album wasn't without its controversies. Fans cried foul at the band's departure from their signature sound, and critics tore the album to shreds. The band's internal struggles were also boiling over, leading to more lineup changes and a downward spiral into obscurity. Metamorphosis became a symbol of the band's decline for some, while others defended it as an underrated gem that showcased their willingness to experiment and evolve.

Metamorphosis is a cautionary tale, a stark reminder of the dangers of chasing trends and abandoning your roots. It's the sound of a band losing their way, a butterfly trapped in a chrysalis of its own making. Despite its flaws and controversies, Metamorphosis remains a fascinating artifact of a band struggling to adapt to a changing musical landscape, a testament to the challenges and compromises faced by artists in the ever-evolving world of rock and roll.