THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: March 2021 (Page 2 of 14)

HEAVEN’S TRAIL – Lethal Mind

March 29, 2021 /

Melodic rock is not dead my friends – it’s alive and well and living in Germany apparently. I admit to not knowing a whole bunch of anything about Heaven’s Trail until I happened upon a track on the web. This is a 2018 release from those good people at Escape Music. They don’t release many albums on vinyl, but when they do the quality is really high. Heaven’s Gate are a relatively new band formed in Germany in 2018 by ex-Jaded Heart guitarist Barish Kepic, and they are a lot heavier than them that’s for sure. Coupled with the fiery guitar work, there is excellent vocals from unknown Rick Altzi.

The opening track alone is worth the price of the album. Holy Moly what a killer opening track! A serious fast fat riff with some killer vocal and melody! A ripping track. The quality continues with Too Late, another great melodic rock anthem. Changes slows the pace slightly until the middle eight when the groove and the riffs click in – another killer tune. Monster riff approaching! These guys can write a riff that’s for sure. Carousel kicks huge amounts of arse! Side close out track, Feed My Soul, has another huge fat riff to melt your brain and is another kick ass tune.

Side 2 kicks off with On The Rise and another face melting riff and groove to bang that head to. Killer track! The awesomeness continues with The Flame – a great vocal and groove rips it up nicely. A fantastic intro to Walking In The Shadows before the beast of a riff sets in to a double kick monster groove. Another ripping intro to Voodoo with a really awesome bouncy riff and groove. King of Pain is up next with yet another killer riff and there is no let up in the quality of the songs – it’s relentless. Last track, Simplified, is a fitting end to a fantastic album.

I love being blown away by bands that I haven’t heard before, and these guys are awesome. If you are melodic metal/hard rock fan you should love this.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LION – Dangerous Attraction

March 29, 2021 /

Although around since ’84 and having a track in the movie Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter, it wasn’t until ’86 that this, their first full length album, was released. At the same time they also had written the theme song to the animated Transformers movie. Everything seemed to be going their way, but as with everything hard rock and LA, they seemed to fall between the cracks. It’s a shame, as this album and the follow up are really good records and should have seen the band crack into the big leagues. Plus, they had hot shot guitarist Doug Aldrich, who would later join Whitesnake and the Dead Daisies playing up a storm, and on vocals there was ex-Tytan vocalist Kal Swan.

Make no mistake, this is one of the best hair rock albums you have never heard of. Every song is a killer song of this genre of rock. Well written songs and some great playing from all involved, especially Doug Aldrich who plays his ass off. If Never Surrender had been released as a single things might have been a whole lot different. My favourite track is the last track on the album, Shout It Out, which is a kick ass up tempo rocker with a killer chorus and hook. I personally think this kills anything that Def Leppard ever did, but that’s just my opinion. Doug Aldrich hasn’t had a lot of luck with his bands as nobody seems to care about the excellent Burning Rain as well.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

IMPELLITTERI – Stand In Line

March 29, 2021 /

This is the second full length album from shredder Chris Impellitteri’s band named after himself obviously. This album although being chock full of shredtastic solos at every available gap in the music, is very melodic and the songs have come first. The main reason that there is so much melody is thanks to the amazing voice of Graham Bonnet. There are a couple of sly digs at one of Bonnets previous employers Richie Blackmore as there is a pretty pointless cover of Since You’ve Been Gone with suitably over the top solo and Somewhere Over The Rainbow both Blackmore played live . I suppose this was melodic metal before it became a thing. Opening track is Rainbow style souped up rocker as is Secret Lover. I’m not sure if Bonnet ever played live with this line but if he did I’m sure they would have to tune down as there is no way he would hav been able to sing in this range night after night. The other notable guest on the album is Mr Big drummer Pat Torpey. If your a fan of Yngwie style shred guitar playing then this is for you. The last track is an instrumental and is widdly diddly heaven I’m amazed there is only one of those tracks here. While I do admire the skill that goes into playing this fast it does leave me cold as there seems to be an an absence of feel. Anyway the songs rescue this album and the hooks and melodies are really good and the production is nice and crisp also. 7.5/10

KALEO – A/B

March 29, 2021 /

It’s easy to see how America thought KALEO were from one of the southern states, as their mix of delta blues with modern production is straight out of Mississippi. In fact, they are from that hotbed of the blues – Iceland. This is their second full length release and it is split into Side White and Side Black or A&B. Mixed with a modern leaning on blues, and great production, we have a winner winner chicken dinner.

They had two huge hit singles from this record in America – the opening two tracks No Good and the platinum Way Down We Go. Have to say there is a touch of The Black Keys at play, but that’s not a bad thing. Broken Bones is straight out of Clarksdale – they certainly do it right. Side B is more acoustic in approach, and more authentic if you will, with a big dose of Americana thrown into the mix. Vocalist JJ Julius Son has an amazing voice that is pure blues one minute, and pure roots the next. All The Pretty Girls is such a beautiful song. Automobile is straight out of the American roots song book, but sang in Icelandic.

I managed to catch them live a couple of years ago and they were fantastic. A great band, and this album deserves your attention.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2024 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑