THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: August 2021 (Page 1 of 13)

PORCUPINE TREE – House Of Blues Los Angeles 2003

August 31, 2021 /

This has been available as a download for quite some time on the band’s Bandcamp page. Now, with the acquiring of all their own catalogue, they are releasing everything through their own Transmission label. For a band that has been done for nearly 11 years, they put out quite a lot of product. Mainly reissues and remixes, but occasionally we get nuggets like this. A limited release on shiny blue vinyl to go with the title, this is without doubt a superb album.

The album was recorded on the In Absentia tour when the band were supporting Opeth. The In Absentia album was the beginning of the heavy riffs and grooves entering the band’s music, and would last for two more albums, until The Incident, where the vibe changed and would be the last studio album they recorded. If you don’t own any Porcupine Tree, then hurry and go and buy this before they are all gone.

The choice of songs from the old catalogue, as well as the In Absentia new material, fit together perfectly. I love the way they put in songs that were not on the album proper, as Futile was only originally on a promo CD. Gravity Eyelids shows the new direction really well, encompassing the fat riff heavy grooves with the beautifully angelic pieces. The version here of Russia On Ice is just sublime and one of my all time favourite PT tracks.

Porcupine Tree are one of the world’s best kept secrets and urge everyone to to add some to your collections.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

ACCEPT – Balls To The Wall

August 31, 2021 /

At the time, most of us who loved Restless & Wild (especially the speedy Fast As A Shark which received awesome reception that track received from fans and critics alike) thought the next album would be more in that vein. The band had other ideas of course, and they carried on with the Judas Priest style that they had been busy crafting. The band chose to produce the album themselves, and it was a definite step up as the sound is very big and loud.

The title track, and first track on the album, was released as a single and did well all over the world. It became the band’s anthem and signature tune. London Leatherboys caused a bit of a stir in the US with the homoerotic themes, but only in some states. If the track Fight It Back was the first track you ever heard by the band, you would swear that you were listening to Judas Priest as the similarities are obvious – well at least until Udo’s vocals kicked in. Head Over Heels is the track I like the least as it’s just generic plod and nothing special. Losing More Than You You’ve Ever Had uses the same riff and groove pattern as Princess Of The Dawn, at least until the chorus kicks in.

Love Child opens up Side 2 with some standard chugga riffing that reminds me a bit of the Scorpions musically, but apparently this caused a stir in the US also due to the lyrical content. Turn Me On is the type of simple track that I like. It’s got a very simple fat riff and groove that repeats over and over – it gets the head a bangin’ and the toe a tappin’. Losers And Winners follows and the main riff is nearly a direct lift from Priest’s Steeler. They obviously changed the main chorus and bridge for fear of being sued, but it’s a tad too close for me. Guardians Of The Night is another slow chugga riff, and doesn’t quite do it for me as the chorus is an bit to cheesy. The album closes out with Winterdreams and is a very un-Accept track as we are in ballad territory. It’s a decent song, but Udo’s voice does not fit the song.

This album sums up all Accept albums with Udo on vocals, in that they are all really patchy. Sure there are some great tracks, but there are also a lot of dust ones to. The band would fold in ’96, only to resurface in 2010 with a new singer in Marc Tornillo, and would release arguably their best album in Blood Of The Nations. More of that later.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

RACER X – Second Heat

August 30, 2021 /

There’s big line up changes from the first record here with the addition of a second guitarist in Bruce Bouillet ,and Scott Travis on drums. To say the guitar playing is incredible on this record would be an understatement. It’s everywhere and fills every spare space, and this time there is the addition of two part harmonies. It’s the addition of Travis for me that makes the biggest difference. His double kick playing is outstanding.

It all comes together on Scarified, with that lead off drum groove, and the killer playing from everyone. This has to be one of the best virtuoso instrumental pieces put to wax – all band members are shredding. Incredible track! Hammer Away is one of the finest melodic metal tracks you will hear. As well as the incredible playing, the melody and the hook were important in this track. There are two covers on the album, a great rendition of Bowie’s Moonage Daydream, and a Judas Priest song that never was in Heart Of A Lion, which was given to the band by Rob Halford (it was supposed to be on the Turbo album but never made it).

It’s astounding that the band could not get any major label backing at the time. They would only record a live album and then Paul Gilbert was approached to join Mr. Big – and that was it. They would reform to play a few shows and record a couple of more albums, but it would just be for fun and was now a side project for all concerned. Love this record and everything they have done.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TESTAMENT – Demonic

August 30, 2021 /

This is one of Testament’s heaviest records. Recorded in ’97, when the whole Pantera thing was in full swing, and the sound reflects that. Even Chuck Billy’s vocals are full on growl. The only two original members are Billy himself, and Eric Peterson on guitars – plus they are joined by the amazing Gene Hoglan on drums.

Demonic is a very apt title for this record. From the very first note as the needle drops, it sounds pure evil. If you were a fan of the band around The Legacy and The New Order, then this sounds like a totally different band. Killer monster riffs and heavy grooves are high on the menu, and with Hoglan in the band, anything is possible. I do miss hearing the finesses of Alex Skolnick though. I think he is a great player and added that little something to the band.

The Demonic Refusal and The Burning Times are seriously heavy tracks, and they are a killer opening to proceedings. My favourites on the record are Jun Jun, which has an awesome groove and riff and is a tad different to the rest of the album, John Doe is another stand out track for me and the beginning is epic with massive chugga riffage. In fact nearly the whole of Side 2 is just so crushingly heavy that I like the whole Side. Special mention goes to the last track, Nostrovia, which has nods to old school thrash with a more intense drum groove – and the breakdowns are killer. Nuclear Blast have done a good job of these reissues and they sound great. A great addition to any metal fans collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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