Death Walks Behind You


Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was their first album to receive US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and Paul Hammond. It is certainly, critically and commercially, their most successful album and often hailed as a classic of the progressive rock genre. It also produced the hit single "Tomorrow Night", which became one of the band's best-known songs. The album's cover features the William Blake monotype Nebuchadnezzar. Band photos were taken at Churchfield Road Cemetery, Acton W3, by former actor-turned photographer, Richard Lyon.
The title track was covered on record in 1992 by Paradise Lost, in 2000 by Bigelf and in 2012 by Swedish death metal band NonExist.

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Death Walks Behind You" 7:28
  2. "Vug" 4:57
  3. "Tomorrow Night" 3:56
  4. "7 Streets" 6:40

    Side two

  5. "Sleeping for Years" 5:24
  6. "I Can't Take No More" 3:32
  7. "Nobody Else" 4:58
  8. "Gershatzer" 7:58

    2004 Castle Music CD reissue bonus tracks

  9. "Play the Game" 4:42 - "Tomorrow Night" B-side 1971
  10. "The Devil's Answer" 3:59 – demo with Carl Palmer 1970
  11. "Tomorrow Night" 5:28 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  12. "Shabooloo" aka "Before Tomorrow" 6:05 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  13. "Death Walks Behind You" 6:06 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  14. "Devil's Answer" 3:26 - original single version 1971

    2006 Akarma Records unlicensed CD reissue bonus tracks

  15. "Tomorrow Night" 5:27 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  16. "Shabooloo" 6:10 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  17. "Death Walks Behind You" 6:04 - BBC Radio Session 1971
  18. "The Rock" 4:32 - In Hearing of Atomic Rooster album track

    Personnel (original album)

In a review special, Prog-Sphere.com writes that "though not exactly flawless, Death Walks Behind You is an impressive offering that is almost a must-listen for Hammond fans and anyone who likes their prog with a harder edge. A fascinating, almost addictive album by an underrated band, whose long but chequered career ended tragically with Vincent Crane’s death in 1989."