This album marks the end of the Steve Morse era and the arrival of Simon McBride, a talented Northern Irish guitarist, who brings a refreshing energy while respecting the heritage of complex riffs and flamboyant solos. The uncluttered white cover is reminiscent of the Beatles' “White Album”, a subtle nod to the year of the band's formation in 1968, a way of symbolizing a new beginning while respecting the band's roots.

Although Deep Purple has nothing left to prove, it brilliantly avoids the ease of a band resting on its laurels. Instead, “=1” offers a collection of tracks where each song is carefully constructed to celebrate their sonic identity. 'Show Me' opens the album with a resolutely contemporary energy, while 'A Bit on the Side' reveals a beautiful interplay between Don Airey's keyboard and McBride's guitar, full of freshness while avoiding the pitfall of outrageous technique.

'Sharp Shooter' adds a punchy dynamic and highlights Ian Paice and Roger Glover's solid rhythm section, as incisive as ever after all these years. 'Portable Door' captures the essence of '70s rock, harking back to a glorious period in the band's history, while 'Old Fangled Thing' explores bluesy territory with assertive hard rock undertones.

'Lazy Sod' and 'If I Were You' stand out for their catchy grooves and captivating melodies, illustrating the band's undiminished ability to compose songs that, while different from classics such as 'Perfect Strangers' and 'Child in Time', are no less enjoyable for die-hard fans. Finally, Deep Purple still manages to convey some fine emotions, with 'Bleeding Obvious' closing the album on an almost introspective note, featuring a sincere and emotional vocal performance by Ian Gillan.