Deep Purple "Now What?! (Germany, earMusic, 0208486ERE)"

Now What?! is the 19th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple. It was released on 26 April 2013 and produced by Bob Ezrin. A dedicated official web site was also created by the band to post updates about the album. It was the band's first studio album in over seven years, as Deep Purple's previous studio album, Rapture of the Deep, was released in late 2005.

On 26 February 2013, the album's title was announced. Additionally, a new single featuring "Hell to Pay" and "All the Time in the World" was released in both CD and vinyl formats on 29 March 2013. On May 6, 2013, the band confirmed that a new single "Vincent Price" would be released on 7 June as download, CD single and 7" transparent vinyl. The single would also include the previously unreleased song "First Sign of Madness", two tracks from the now unavailable Rapture of the Deep limited edition and the track's video-clip.

The songs "Uncommon Man" and "Above and Beyond", which includes the lyrics "Souls having touched are forever entwined", are dedicated to founding member Jon Lord, who died in July 2012. "Uncommon Man" is partly inspired by the classical composition "Fanfare for the Common Man", and features a synthesizer-generated fanfare theme composed by Don Airey.

Following its release, Now What?! has been met with mostly positive reception from critics. AllMusic's Steve Leggett commented that the album sounds like a product of progressive metal's golden age, saying "Some things really shouldn't change, and Deep Purple recognize that. They haven't changed a bit, and the group's many fans are going to find this release comforting in that regard". Sputnikmusic reviewer wrote that "fans of Purpendicular and the group’s last two albums will find several pleasing moments and the band should feel proud of the outcome too."

The album appeared at No. 104 on Sputnikmusic's list of the "Best Progressive Rock Albums of 2013."

Now What?! sold 4,000 copies in its first week in the US.

Six months after its release Now What?! was certified gold in Germany (100 000 copies sold).

It was the first Deep Purple studio album to enter the UK top 40 albums charts since The Battle Rages On... in 1993.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Ian Paice and Bob Ezrin, except "It'll Be Me" by Jack Clement.

1. "A Simple Song" 4:39
2. "Weirdistan" 4:14
3. "Out of Hand" 6:09
4. "Hell to Pay" 5:10
5. "Body Line" 4:26
6. "Above and Beyond" 5:30
7. "Blood from a Stone" 5:18
8. "Uncommon Man" 7:02
9. "Après vous" 5:24
10. "All the Time in the World" 4:21
11. "Vincent Price" 4:46

Time: 56:28

"Uncommon Man" and "Above and Beyond" are dedicated to Jon Lord. "Uncommon Man" features themes from the 1942 orchestral piece "Fanfare for the Common Man".

German Edition comes with a stand-alone single track (with own artwork):

- 'First Sign of Madness' (4:26)

Can be obtained via a download code included in the German edition of the release.

Some releases included a tour sheet.

Additional Musicians:

Students of Nimbus School of Recording Arts - Gang Vocals (Hell To Pay).

This album is dedicated to Jon Lord.

Souls, having touched, are forever entwined.

Recording information:

Recorded at: The Tracking Room, Nashville, TN, USA,

Anarchy Studios, Nashville, TN, USA,

Additional Keyboards recorded at Rainbow Recorders,

Mixed at Anarchy Studios, Nashville, TN, USA,

Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York, NY, USA.

Bob Ezrin – producer, mixing

Justin Cortelyou – engineer, mixing

Li Xiao Le – assistant engineer

Zach Allan, Jarad Clement – additional engineers (The Tracking Room),

Rob Harris, Mike Airey & Nathan Sage – additional engineers (Rainbow Recorders)

Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City