Moving away from the psychedelic folk of 1969's Space Oddity, David Bowie fronted a hard-rocking power trio featuring guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Woody Woodmansey, which would soon morph into The Spiders from Mars. The heavier, more aggressive sound suits the darker tone of songs like "All the Madmen," which features a chilling spoken-word section, and the foreboding majesty of the title track. The apocalyptic mood is lightened by the sludgy grind of "She Shook Me Cold" and the lighthearted boogie "Black Country Rock."