THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

PROTEST THE HERO – Scurrilous

October 14, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Pet peeve alert! You release a record and the artwork and the pressing are superb, but you put zero information on the cover, not even a track listing. This is a reissue of Protest the Hero’s 2011 album through Sheet Happens, who always do great pressings. They are a relatively local band for me so I have followed them since the beginning.

Technical progressive metal is an ever expanding genre and these guys do push boundaries. They lean to the heavier side of the machine but melody is never far away and the clean soaring vocal of Rody Walker is superb sitting just on top of all the technical noodling that rages underneath. It’s tough to pick a fave as there are so many different elements to all the songs, but Tapestry is just intense and I love the interplay between vocals and riifage. That staccato pattern is freakin’ awesome.

Killer record by such a cool band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ECLIPSE – Megalomanium

October 14, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This is the tenth album from these Swedish melodic rockers who have consistently put out high quality rockin’ records since 2001. If you look back over their recent albums the sound has shifted somewhat to a more Foo Fighters groove while still holding on to the big hooks and melody. An obvious attempt to rake in a younger audience perhaps? They even move to a Celtic sound on Anthem where memories of Gary Moore and Thin Lizzy come rushing into my head.

However, it’s the big riffing catchy chorus tunes that I really love from the band and I’m pleased to say they are here but buried later in the record. The last seven songs starting with Hearts Collide will have you singing along like a goon. I don’t know any other modern band that consistently comes up with so many hook laden songs. Frankly, Erik Martensson is a genius and doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Give this album time and you will see the band have grown into so much more. Favourite track? Well, it’s a real tough one as there are some bangers here for sure but I Don’t Get It and So Long Farewell Goodbye are my joint choices. I Don’t Get It is a killer power pop blast with a HUGE hook and chorus. So Long starts with that trademark crunch riffing that they do so well and again the sing along hook and chorus is soooo good. There are no ballads on this album!🎉

Great band and great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

HIGHWAY CHILE – For The Wild And Lonely

October 14, 2024 / / 0 Comments

These guys describe themselves as Holland’s first hard rock band. I’m sure Golden Earring may have something to say about that.

This six track EP is Highway Chile’s second release and it came out in ’84. If I’m brutally honest here, this EP is not that good. The vocals are terrible in places and really spoil what is a spirited effort. The opening track Power And The Force musically is not bad, with the twin guitars riffing hard. Brand New Star has a raw NWOBHM feel and I would say this is my favourite.

They broke up I think around ’84 and they reformed in the toonies for a live show. These songs frankly should never have left the bedroom and need a lot of work to bring them up to scratch.

5.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BEAU NASTY – Dirty But Well Dressed

October 14, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Yet another sleaze glam band from California that only managed to release one album and then just fade into the twilight.  Epic obviously believed in the band as they roped in mega knob twiddler, Beau Hill to sit behind the desk and do what he does best. Coming across a bit like Britney Fox, but these guys are much better, they just never had that one song to ride the album on. They released a version of Love Potion #9 as a single, but that failed to catch. The only member of the band you maybe familiar with is Mike Terrana on the drums who has gone one to drum with seemingly everyone, Yngwie and Rage to name but two.

My attention is always drawn to guitars and in Brian Young and George Bernhardt they have two killer players. Side 1 of the album is loaded with three bangers straight away and the record company were obviously really trying here. Shake It, Goodbye Rosie, and Gimme Lovin’ are all killer songs and I would have released Gimme Lovin’ as a single because it’s the obvious choice. Yup, there’s ballads but there’s enough rockin’ tunes to more than make up for that. My favourite track is Shake It. It sums up that whole period really, a fun good time track with a great riff and a huge hook and chorus.

There are too many one album bands that just vanished, but I think these guys deserved a lot more.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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