Warthur Though it's now my all-time favourite Blue Oyster Cult album, I didn't like Secret Treaties at first - it took more than a few listens before its subtleties became apparent and I really started getting into it.

Similarly, whilst I really liked Agents of Fortune on the first few listens, after a while its star diminished in my estimation considerably. An album of slick pop-metal, there's no doubt that this one helped the band get wider attention - you've probably heard the cowbell-heavy Don't Fear the Reaper a dozen times by now - but it can come across as a heaped collection of hard rock cliches.

Of course, they're cliches in part because this album shaped the genre so much, but at the same time it's undeniable that this is the dawn of a poppier strand of music in BOC's catalogue, and there was a while when I was so deeply immersed in their more esoteric early style that that bugged me. I've come around again on it now, having aged into a point where I can appreciate a good pop number now and then, but at the same time I don't think it's the top-tier classic its predecessor was.

Conor Fynes 'Agents Of Fortune' - Blue Oyster Cult (5/10)

So this is 1970's heavy metal?

The actual album aside, this shows how far music (specifically the aforementioned genre) has come in it's diversity and extremity. Although Blue Oyster Cult certainly has a bit more of a cutting edge then their typical 'classic rock' contemporaries, they seem to craft a 'just-slightly-heavier-than-usual' brand of '70s rock.

'Agents Of Fortune's claim to fame is undoubtedly the psychedelic anthem 'Don't Fear The Reaper' was I will not lie, is a fantastic track. Very well composed with a trademark guitar riff and some shimmering melodies and harmonies, this track is what convinced me to check this record out. Unfortunately, the other songs on this album don't compare to the single; made very surprising by the fact that this is considered by many classic rock fans to be one of the best rock albums ever made.

When the first track came rolling around, I was unsure if it was even the same band that had played the song I was already familiar with. 'This Ain't The Summer Of Love' sounded almost like a Rolling Stones b- side that had never been released; the vocals had gone from being soft to being a near carbon copy of Mick Jagger. However, as the actual music goes (regardless of comparisons to other bands,) it is a pretty rocking way to open up a rock album. Some of the latter tracks such as 'Tenderloin' and 'E.T.I' scramble up to higher levels of artistic exploration. 'E.T.I' in particular has grown on me alot; there are some great upbeat riffs to be heard there, as well as a great solo in the typical classic rock vein.

I'm not going to recommend this to everyone; especially people thinking this is going to be 'prog' or 'metal.' What this is for the most part is competently executed hard rock, and a refreshing middle-of-the-ground area between the highly complex art rock and laid back pop of the area.

Windhawk Blue Oyster Cult is a legendary US-based hard rock band; known to play "heavy metal for the thinking man" back in the 1970's; although few would call any of their songs heavy metal in this day and age when even Black Sabbath are considered mainstream rock by many. "Agents of Fortune" is the fifth release by the band, and commercially one of their most successful releases.

Musically this album is all about rock and hard rock; played and performed in a traditional manner. Few of the songs are adventurous in structure or form, and many are clearly aimed towards being radio friendly. The AOR tag fits quite nicely on this release due to that.

With melodic tunes, extensive use of piano, synths and Hammond; melodic and mostly calm vocals as well as a mostly laid back guitar sound the end result is an album clearly aimed at the mass market.

The songs are a mixed lot here though. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is the clear highlight here, sounding just as good as ever. "This Ain't the Summer of Love" and "E.T.I." are also strong tracks; sounding as good now as they did in 1976.

"The Revenge of Vera Gemini" and "Tattoo Vampire" are nice tracks as well, but the rest of the songs here really doesn't sound too good in my opinion. Worst of the rest being "Tenderloin"; which in my opinion is a song best forgotten.

thellama73 Easily the most overrated BÖC album, mostly because of the radio success of the admittedly great Don't Fear The Reaper. However, that track aside, I find little of interest here. It's disappointing to see the band steering away from its more heavy metal sound towards a more radio friendly pop/rock. Even within the pop framework, they would be much more successful with later albums like Mirrors. Side 1 has a couple of redeeming tracks, such as "This Ain't The Summer of Love," which is a fine rocker, but Side 2 is completely disposable. "E.T.I." is widely championed as a great song, but I've always found it completely forgettable. Those of you familiar with BÖC from the radio would do better to start with Mirrors or Fire of Unknown Origin, others should start with any of the three "Black and White" albums.