THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2021 (Page 8 of 13)

ACCEPT – Too Mean To Die

September 14, 2021 /

Since the bands reformation in 2010 with Mark Tornillo, the band have been releasing better albums than they ever did with the small angry one as their frontman.

This is the band’s 16th studio album, and the 5th with Tornillo. The only original member left is Wolf Hoffman as everyone else has been jettisoned along the way. I am glad to inform you all that the quality is still high with the tunes and production, which again has been handled by Andy Sneap – no matter what he produces gets a fantastic sound. Riffs riffs and more riffs that’s what Mr. Hoffman is good at, and there are lots of them all over this album. From the opening grooves of Zombie Apocalypse, to the end screams of Samson And Delilah, this record is choc full of good old heavy metal. My favourites are (and there are a few) Too Mean To Die – a monster sounding track with an awesome riff and groove, The Undertaker – which I would say is a classic Accept track, with a slow intro that builds with a dirty mean riff, Symphony Of Pain – a classic old school metal romp, and the perfect close out track, Samson And Delilah. I’m not sure how Wolf Hoffman keeps churning out the riffs, but long may he do so.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

STUCK MOJO – Here Come The Infidels

September 14, 2021 /

Declaration Of A Headhunter is one of my favourite sounding metal albums as the guitar sound and groove is crushing. But fast forward to 2016, and the band has basically become a Rich Ward solo project. When I first heard of the band it was upon the releases of their first album, Snapping Necks. I saw it advertised as groove metal and I ordered it on that alone. Groove it most certainly did, and mixed with the rap style vocal from original frontman Bonz, for me it was a winning formula.

This version of the Mojo still has the rap vocal, but with new boy Robbie J Fonz spitting the rhymes. Rich Ward’s guitar and riffs still drive everything though, and I’m glad that hasn’t changed. When this band smoke best it’s on tracks like Rape Whistle and Charles Bronson, where the monster riffs and grooves are huge. I’m not sure there is a heavier rhythm tone anywhere. There are moments that are pure classic rock, like the guitar break in Verbal Combat, that I’m not sure would have appeared in earlier Mojo records. There are also very commercial moments like Tambourine which should have been released as a single on MTV or some other station – it’s one beast of a hard rock track. Destroyer would not be out of place on a full on Rap station, well at least until the fat monster guitar kicks in. I Am Legion is the best track for me. This track just freakin’ smokes, the guitar riff and groove are killer, and Robbie J’s vocals are awesome and worth the money for the record alone.

With Fozzy being the main focus of Mr. Ward’s attention, I’m not sure there will ever be another Mojo record, which is a shame as I’d rather listen to these heavy grooves than the made for money nonsense that is Fozzy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SPARKS – Propaganda

September 13, 2021 /

This band had a big impression on me when I was a young very impressionable school boy back in ’74. The release of Kimono My House, and especially the single This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us, blew my tiny little mind. If you can, watch Edgar Wright’s awesome docufilm The Sparks Brothers as it tells the tale of this amazing band. They sort of operate in a musical world of their own. Every now and then that world seems to align perfectly with what’s happening at the time.

This album was the follow up to Kimono and was also released in ’74. That’s what bands did back then – not like today when you can wait 5 years for your favourite band to record an album. I would dare suggest that Sparks are one of the ultimate Prog rock bands as they change styles and sounds and constantly evolve. Yes it’s pop, but not as we know it. As The Beach Boys did before them, they tried to innovate within a format that can be throwaway at times and has a very fickle audience.

My favourites on this record are the superb Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth, and Something For The Girl With Everything – both are superb mid seventies pop tunes with great arrangements, but they sound as though they could be from the now.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KIX – s/t

September 13, 2021 /

I know Midnite Dynamite and Blow My Fuse were big albums for the band, but to me, this is their best album. It shows the band as their true selves – before record company nonsense kicked in. A cross between glam/power pop and good old rock n roll, this is one fun record. I bought this as a cold buy and had never heard the band before – I just liked the cover and the song titles.

I was super stoked when I first dropped the needle on the record as first song, Atomic Bombs, is a great fun up-tempo rocker. Every song is just pure gold and has that big feel good vibe. Love At First Sight has a killer groove and sing-a-long chorus and should have been a single. Heartache is an ode to young lust. Poison is a monster glam/sleaze track with a killer beat and groove, and has an awesome solo – plus a great call and response section. The Itch closes out Side 1 and reminds me of AC/DC with the guitar sound and main riff.

Side 2 kicks off with the band’s signature song, Kix Are For Kids, and a fun fast old school rock n roll romp it is. Contrary Mary follows and is Faster Pussycat before they were a thing. This album came out in ’81, and I would say this album was an influence on quite a few bands that came after. If I had to choose between this and Crudley Motts first album, I would go for this every time. Better songs, better playing, better frontman, and a way better guitar player. Anyway back to the record. Next up is The Kid, which starts with a solo guitar piece before the full on stomp glamfest kicks in. Last track is Yeah Yeah Yeah, and I know it’s cheesy as hell, but I love the simplicity and the fun vibe of this track – even though lyrically it’s not very PC.

So this record is not gonna change the world, but if it doesn’t put a smile on your face and happy feeing in your soul, then you are in need of therapy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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