THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: September 23, 2021

SHINEDOWN – Amaryllis

September 23, 2021 /

First time on vinyl for this classic of modern rock. It’s amazing how many people hate this band and I can’t work out why?! Maybe it’s the same reason that everyone hates Nickelback and that the music is created in a laboratory! All I know is that this album rocks hard and is a mega groove fest.

This is the band’s fourth album and follows the huge success of The Sound If Madness. Opening and killer track, Adrenaline, is a monster of a tune to open the record. A great riff and groove and the production is really loud. The drum and bass sound is killer, and add to the that the drop D riffage, it makes for one meaty record. The band hail from Jacksonville, and Brent Smiths voice has that country rock feel to it on certain tracks. It gives the songs a great feel mixed with the modern production. I am struggling for a favourite as I really like the whole album, but if I’m pushed I would go for Enemies and Through The Ghost.

Don’t believe the haters, this is a great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

COLOSSEUM 2 – Electric Savage

September 23, 2021 /

This is the second album from a relatively short lived jazz fusion combo, who were built around the talents of drummer John Hiseman and the incredible guitar of Gary Moore. For Moore, this was sandwiched in between his stints in Thin Lizzy. Moore has always been chameleon like in following trends in rock music, and this music was made for him to show his talents. Every song is a bit of a widdle fest, and a drummer’s showcase, as chops are flying in all directions.

Opening track, Put It This Way, is an out and out jam fest with some serious playing. All Skin And Bone is more of a groovy track with a nice funk rock vibe where Hiseman shows how many different things he can hit in the shortest space of time. Rivers is a slow blues/jazz piece with a vocal by Moore, and lots of really tasty guitar. Last track on Side 1 is The Scorch, and it most certainly does. A very spacey synth intros the tune, and we go into an all most classical piece before drum and guitar savagery take over.

Lament opens up Side 2 and it has a very Celtic vibe to the piece, which Moore would revisit later in his solo career. Desperado follows and is quite a wild fusion piece with lots of mirroring from all players. Am I is a slower jazz vibe with some really nice guitar from Gary, before we get to album closer Intergalactic Strut – and it most certainly does strut. A great riff and groove and some monster playing.

There is probably more of Gary’s solos on these three albums than on most of his solo albums. If you are a Moore fan then this is for you.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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