This is a surprisingly tight performance considering the known history of the group at this time (1993) or more to the point the ongoing Gillan-Blackmore rift. The playing by all concerned is very proficient and a joy to listen to. I never got to see MkII in concert so this, Made In Japan & Nobody's Perfect are the closest I'll get and while nothing matches Made In Japan, it's still a big improvement on Nobody's Perfect. The great thing is the use of new material like "Anya" & " A Twist Of The Tail" and less obvious tracks like "Anyone's Daughter" (from Fireball) which I've never heard live before. Even Ritchie sounds like he's enjoying himself! That's the beauty of the group now - pulling out older, rarely heard classics for a new audience. I do recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear what a live performance should be all about with the crowd responding incredibly to the opening chords of familiar songs such as "Child In Time". But then Europe (and particularly Germany) have always loved their Purple no matter what lineup. Another special moment is the short blast of the "Burn" riff during "Speed King". Uncredited bonuses are quick fire, incendiary versions of "Lazy", "Space Truckin'" & "Woman From Tokyo". If you love Purple live - GET IT!!

Come Hell or High Water is a surprisingly good live document of the 1993 DP tour. I say "surprisingly" because Blackmore and GIllan were not on the best of terms and in fact Blackmore left the band for good shortly thereafter. In addition, there is a live video bearing the same title out on import which is somewhat disappointing. Fortunately, this CD comes from a night on the tour where everything seemed to click. Forget 1988's icky Nobody's Perfect; this late Mk.2 show cooks from the get-go! A great mix and production help things considerably. There is also a good song selection of old and new. Highlights include a tough, tight "Highway Star," an extended "Anya" during which Ritchie plays long Hungarian-styled melodies in an early Rainbow manner, a virtually "down-home" take on "Anyone's Daughter," and a "Speed King" which throws in such little joys as "Teddy Bear's Picnic" and the main riff from "Burn" before coming crashing down again. This disc proves that when he wanted to, the early '90s Blackmore could reclaim some of his '70s identity. It also goes without saying that Glover, Paice, and Lord turn in some great performances as well. Not the best DP live album ever, but in the top 30%.

Its a great CD. They have done better ones, but for anyone who wants a taste of Deep Purple live, this is one of the CDs to get. Features most of their classics, including my favorites, Speed King and Highway Star.

Blackmore had still played some pretty stuffs on this album,...though he left after that.. check out the songs as Anyone's daughter, Twist in the tale, perfect strangers,...what a timeless songs...they are

4/5. "Come Hell or High Water" was recorded in 1993 during Deep Purple world tour in support of "The Battles Rages On" album and is a surprisingly stunning performance from the original line-up. Despite personal clashes between Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore, which led to Blackmore refusing to join the band on the Japanese leg of the tour and rift between Blackmore and other members becoming unbridgeable, Deep Purple performance on this album recorded at shows in Stuttgart and Munich, Germany and at Birmingham, England is just fantastic and is probably one of the best live records of the band. The all time classics "The Highway Star", "Black Night", "Speed King", "Child In Time" and "Smoke On the Water" are delivered with a great deal of power of improvisation, while the new song "Anya" comes in an extended version with melodic Hungarian-style semi-acoustic solos by Ritchie Blackmore. On this particular record Blackmore sounds simply amazing, switching from heavy riffs to bluesy melodies with ideas from European classical music .Accompanied by powerful drumming, bubbling organ and Gillan's raging vocals, this makes for a great recap of the legendary group's career. Delivered in an almost perfect sound quality with virtuous guitar solos and amazing crowd sing along on the closing track "Smoke On The Water", "Come Hell or High Water" makes you feel as if you are right in front of the stage, there with the band, catching another sparkling moment from their lustrous history. -Sain Alizada