Armageddon (Armageddon album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Armageddon

| type = studio

| artist = Armageddon

| cover = Armageddon (Armageddon album).jpg

| alt =

| released = May 1975

| recorded = Autumn 1974

| venue =

| studio = Olympic Studios, Barnes

| genre = Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock

| length = 41:02

| label = A&M SP-4513 (original vinyl)
Repertoire PMS-7089-WP (1998 CD reissue)
Esoteric ECLEC2150 (2009 CD reissue)

| producer = Armageddon

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

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}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} {{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/armageddon-mw0000453560|title=Armageddon - Armageddon Album Reviews, Songs & More|website=AllMusic|access-date=20 May 2023}}

}}

Armageddon was the only album released by British/American progressive rock group Armageddon in 1975. It features vocalist Keith Relf (of The Yardbirds and Renaissance), Martin Pugh (lead guitarist for Rod Stewart's An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down and Steamhammer), Louis Cennamo (bassist and bandmate of Relf's in Renaissance and Pugh's in Steamhammer), and Bobby Caldwell (drummer for Captain Beyond and Johnny Winter).

History

Armageddon was the last band to feature The Yardbirds' (the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page) vocalist Keith Relf. He had founded Renaissance after the dissolution of The Yardbirds in 1968, and left Renaissance after two albums (actually half way through the second album) - to produce bands like Medicine Head (for whom he also played bass), Hunter Muskett and Saturnalia.{{cite web|url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/keithrelf.html |title=Perfect Sound Forever: Keith Relf |access-date=2014-10-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093357/http://www.furious.com/perfect/keithrelf.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}

Pugh and Cennamo had broken up Steamhammer in 1973 - they then decided, with Relf (who had assisted them in the production of the final Steamhammer LP), to leave England for L.A. They tried out a few drummers in California, and decided upon drummer Bobby Caldwell to complete the Armageddon lineup.Bill Martin, [https://books.google.com/books?id=APmUFlgm0R4C&dq=armageddon+bobby+caldwell&pg=PA176 Listening to the future: the time of progressive rock, 1968-1978], pg. 176, Open Court Publishing Company (1977), {{ISBN|0-8126-9368-X}}

According to the booklet in the Repertoire Records CD reissue of the album in 2001, Frampton and Dee Anthony recommended Armageddon to A&M Records, and it is likely that because he was their top selling artist at the time, they agreed to sign the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.jtl.us/nlightsweb/lib/reviews/cennamo.htm|title=An Interview with Louis Cennamo, April-July, 1994 © 1994 Big Bang Magazine|website=Jtl.us|access-date=2023-05-20}}

Although the group's self-titled album was well received by critics and fans, the band did not tour to support it - consequently, sales suffered,{{cite web |url=http://www.keithrelf.com/ |title=Home |website=keithrelf.com}} and Relf returned to England due to poor health shortly after the album was released. He died shortly after returning to England, when he was electrocuted while playing guitar,{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/keith-relf-20892269 |title=Keith Relf Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com |website=Biography.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817164941/http://www.biography.com/people/keith-relf-20892269 |archive-date=2013-08-17}} although he did record one more song "All the Falling Angels" that is included on an album by Illusion called Enchanted Caress. (Illusion was the name the original members of Renaissance chose when they reunited, as the Annie Haslam incarnation of that band was still active at that time). After Armageddon folded, bassist Cennamo reunited with his Renaissance bandmates (the aforementioned Illusion), and later worked with Jim McCarty in the bands Stairway and Renaissance Illusion. Drummer Caldwell returned to Captain Beyond for an album and tour[http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskies/65/memberinfo.html?nocache=916049916 Captain Beyond - "Biographies"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012150051/http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskies/65/memberinfo.html?nocache=916049916 |date=October 12, 2007 }}. - and although guitarist Pugh appears to have retired from music after 1975, he did emerge to play guitar on sessions alongside legendary American rock guitarist Geoff Thorpe{{Cite web|url=http://www.viciousrumors.com/news_old.html|title=news|date=6 October 2008|access-date=20 May 2023|archive-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006060212/http://www.viciousrumors.com/news_old.html|url-status=bot: unknown}} of Vicious Rumors in American rock and roll band, 7th Order{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/rockit/playlist051221.html|title=:: The RockIt Scientist on Radio Today :: PLAYLISTS|website=Rock.co.za|access-date=20 May 2023}} on their debut CD, The Lake of Memory - released on the Big Island Sounds label in 2007.