🎸 Gary Moore – Victims of the Future (1983)
Released in November 1983, Victims of the Future is a hard rock studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore. Coming on the heels of Dirty Fingers, this album represents Moore’s full embrace of the heavy metal and hard rock styles of the early 1980s, while retaining his signature melodic sensibility and virtuosic guitar work.
The album is notable for being one of Moore’s first ventures into a more aggressive, modern rock sound, with polished production, driving riffs, and a mix of hard-hitting tracks and melodic ballads.
📀 Album Credits
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Artist: Gary Moore
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Title: Victims of the Future
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Type: Studio album
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Released: November 1983
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Label: Virgin Records (UK), Columbia Records (US)
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Producer: Gary Moore, Chris Tsangarides
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Recorded at: Townhouse Studios, London
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Genre: Hard rock, heavy metal
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Length: 40:12
Personnel:
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Gary Moore: guitars, lead vocals
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Neil Carter: keyboards, backing vocals
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Mo Foster: bass
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Ian Paice: drums (Deep Purple)
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Chris Tsangarides: producer, engineer
This lineup emphasizes Moore’s transition toward a heavier, modern rock guitar sound, blending melodic solos with hard rock aggression.
🎶 Tracklist
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Night Life – 4:25
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Shapes of Things – 3:37 (cover of The Yardbirds classic; also featured on Corridors of Power)
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Empty Rooms – 5:30
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Hold On to Love – 4:18
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Victims of the Future – 3:50
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Parachute – 4:42
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Run to Your Mama – 4:12
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Crime of Passion – 5:00
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(Still Got) The Blues – 4:38 (early version; note: different from his 1990 hit blues album)
The album balances up-tempo rockers with more melodic, ballad-like moments, highlighting Moore’s versatility as a guitarist and songwriter.
🎸 Notable Songs
🔥 “Empty Rooms”
A power ballad that became one of Moore’s signature tracks in the 1980s. Emotional vocals and soaring guitar solos make it a standout on the album.
🎶 “Victims of the Future”
The title track showcases high-energy riffs and tight rhythm work, highlighting Moore’s hard rock and metal leanings.
🎵 “Run to Your Mama”
A fast-paced rocker with memorable hooks and guitar-driven energy, illustrating Moore’s command over melodic hard rock.
💖 “Night Life”
Opening the album with aggressive riffs and solid groove, it immediately establishes the heavier sound Moore embraced during this period.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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🎸 Heavy Rock Evolution: This album represents Moore’s shift from fusion and melodic hard rock to a more contemporary metal-oriented sound in the early ’80s.
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📀 Ian Paice Collaboration: Deep Purple’s drummer provides driving, precise rhythms on several tracks, adding to the album’s hard rock credibility.
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🔊 Production: Co-produced with Chris Tsangarides, known for working with Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy, giving the album a polished yet aggressive 1980s rock tone.
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🎵 Re-recorded Tracks: Some songs like “Run to Your Mama” also appeared in previous sessions (Dirty Fingers), but here they are re-recorded with a heavier, sharper edge.
💡 Did You Know?
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“Empty Rooms” was later re-recorded as a single in 1985, becoming one of Moore’s biggest solo hits.
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The album title, Victims of the Future, reflects Moore’s interest in themes of social awareness and personal struggle, common in early 1980s rock.
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While not a major commercial success initially, the album cemented Moore’s reputation as a hard rock guitarist capable of both melodic and heavy performances.
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Neil Carter, Moore’s keyboardist, would later join UFO and contribute to several other 1980s rock projects, highlighting the high-caliber lineup on the record.
📊 Legacy & Impact
Victims of the Future is an important entry in Gary Moore’s catalog, showcasing his transition into the heavy hard rock and metal sounds that dominated the 1980s. While later overshadowed by his 1990s blues work, the album remains a fan favorite for its energetic guitar work, tight production, and combination of hard rock aggression with melodic sensibility.
For guitar enthusiasts, the album is considered a key example of Moore’s early 1980s style, bridging his fusion-inflected G-Force work, Dirty Fingers, and later commercial rock albums.
