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Bizarre, philosophical, and deeply satirical
First reviews of Splat! started appearing in the press, both virtual and otherwise.
The primary impression here is one of tons of energy, enabled by Bob Ezrin’s glistening production and a widescreen mix that gives space to the various elements. Purple rarely let up on this album, switching between their trademark organ and guitar flurries for all the world like they haven’t been doing it for decades. Gillan doesn’t make the easy error of lapsing into unwarranted nostalgia or reactionary bitterness, either, although there is a song about the evils of AI, inspired by his struggles with an internet Captcha, and The Lunatic was partly inspired by the banning of that word by the powers that be.
The musical textures aren’t uniform, though: a high point comes when Airey lets loose with a Stevie Wonder-style clavinet solo on the title track, itself based on a sinister, Dear Prudence-alike descending chord sequence that adds a nicely spooky touch. Splat! is a blast from start to finish, and whatever’s in the water at Purple HQ, we want some.
Jazzandrock.com has an extended track-by-track review that concludes with (as translated from German by Google):
Musically, Deep Purple once again demonstrate their remarkable ability to combine classic hard rock with prog elements, blues, humor, and narrative depth. But what is particularly remarkable is the lyrical coherence of “SPLAT!”. The album reads like a surrealist novel about the last days of humanity – full of outsiders, eccentrics, dreamers, and survivors.
The common thread lies in the idea of transformation: Every character on this album is in transition. Some fight against the world, others against themselves, while still others escape into fantasy, madness, or spirituality. The great “Splat” at the end is therefore not a fall, but a liberation from the constraints of reality.
This album is simply insane!
Mojo magazine reviews the album in their August 2026 issue. It is behind a paywall, so no further info available.
[Update June 21]
Classic Rock:
Where Splat! ultimately improves on =1 is that while compounding the impression of a new improved Mk. IX Purple (freshness, concision, engaging narrative lyrics seasoned with Gillan’s sometimes surrealistic wit and imagery), it’s also laced with unmistakable echoes of Mk. II and III. Of Splat!’ s 13 tracks there’s barely a stumble. Jessica’s Bra with its laboured titular pun is possibly a wee bit too 20th-century for its own good, but hey, who among us isn’t? Elsewhere it’s only a succession of highlights: Arrogant Boy is a compelling second cousin to Highway Star, Diablo as gloriously mad as a tree, and Splat! itself an irresistible groove.
In many ways, Splat! captures the very best Purple one could possibly expect to hear in 2026. Pretty good cover as well. They’ll go far.
Thanks to Georgius Novicianus and Tobias Janaschke for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
“… glistening production and a widescreen mix that gives space to the various elements.”
Yesssssss!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3fXRVdiCw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8J9O3a1_jk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeEZjj72MyA&t=9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OO2PuGz-H8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIZUJ4Msv7U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di-LHr6Iams
All praise Super-Bob!
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT67kMo1aomt2u4oZcgBDdKMROjKnJTtJwocosl7nZ-OsG2OZAS2XRlBbMx&s=10
My favorite producer and my favorite band – strike it off my bucket list.
June 20th, 2026 at 01:51“and whatever’s in the water at Purple HQ, we want some.”
June 20th, 2026 at 03:46– yes please 🔥💜🙏🏼
Re the Jazz and Rock “review”/public worship, isn’t it terrible how these Krauts overanalyze everything? Nietzsche and Heidegger all rolled into one. 🤣
June 20th, 2026 at 21:23Reading a review like this, song after song, lyric after lyric, makes me want to hear the entire album live from start to finish…
June 20th, 2026 at 22:13but I don’t think that will ever happen.
“..their remarkable ability to combine classic hard rock with prog elements, blues, ,narrative depth..”
Didn’t they say the want to go heavier, back to straight, 70’s Mark 2 sound? Or it’s my correct guess that those words are just marketing buzzwords?
June 21st, 2026 at 11:19Wouldnt releasing splat, the song, as a single be a good idea marketingwise?
June 22nd, 2026 at 13:10