Deep Purple - Rapture Of The Deep

It’s no secret that ‘Rapture of the Deep’ isn’t the first album that comes to mind when listing Deep Purple’sclassics – and while it was met with interest at the time, it gradually faded from view. Despite solid sales, the album arrived during a period when there was little spotlight on the world of classic rock, and over the years, ‘Rapture of the Deep’ developed into an overlooked chapter in Deep Purple’s rich discography.

It’s equally true that this record, and the story behind it, marked a turning point – the quiet beginning of a run that would eventually lead to four consecutive No. 1 albums (2013, 2017, 2020, 2024) and the kind of success few bands experience even once, let alone decades into their career.

New insights by Kerrang! founder and Classic Rock magazine writer Geoff Barton pull back the curtain on a time when Deep Purple were navigating an uncertain era in the music industry that saw the downfall of many once-great artist careers – and unravel the strange chemistry that gave birth to Deep Purple’s 18th studio album.

As bassist Roger Glover reflects: “We were going through a bit of a hard time when we started the songwriting and production of ‘Rapture of the Deep’ and, strangely enough, we didn’t have a record company at that point. Let’s face it, we were a bit lost (…).”

But from that uncertain moment emerged an album bursting with sharp songwriting, masterful playing, and pure Deep Purple grit.

Now, newly mixed with the supervision of Roger Glover, analogue-mastered at renowned Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, and presented with bold new artwork, Rapture of the Deep finally shines with clarity and colour. “It’s a new album now to me.”, says Roger Glover. Fans will hear it blooming for the first time.