THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: November 2021 (Page 9 of 13)

TRUST – Paris By Night Live

November 11, 2021 /

Now we have bands like Gojira and Uneven Structure to glory over, but for the longest time France’s best export to the world of rock n roll was Trust. This album was recorded in Paris at the Monsters Of Rock show with Iron Maiden and Anthrax. The band were on fire the night they recorded this. I’m sure you all know that even Anthrax covered Antisocial as a single. They even improve on the album takes of the songs, and I really love the tone of Nuno’s guitar. Some people are put off by the fact that they sing in French, but I don’t hear anyone complaining about Rammstein.

A really cool opening with Paris By Night as it’s Love At First Feel by AC/DC with different lyrics – Bernie and Bon Scott were good friends. Highlights here (and there are many) are Sors Tes Griffes – with a great riff and groove, a killer version of Antisocial with great crowd interaction, Ton Dernier Acte – as l love the power of the song, and L’Elite which closes out the album.

A really great album by a band that many people pass over. If you are a lover of mid-eighties hard rock then you will love this album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

WHITE ZOMBIE – La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume 1

November 11, 2021 /

I’m not the biggest Rob Zombie fan. I think he has been making the same record over and over since the release of this one. Sure, there are bells and whistles and a whole bunch of technology added to the mix now, but essentially there has been nothing new for eons. Apart from John Tempesta on drums, he got rid of the whole band so he could just name the whole shebang after himself. I’m sure there were a lot of “financial” reasons for doing that because as a solo unit you make more of the cash yourself.

I quite like the B-Movie horror schtick that is interspersed throughout the whole album here, as it was new and fresh. Black Sunshine is really cool with a sub fifties groove to the beat, and an appearance from Iggy Pop. Grindhouse A Go Go is probably the best on here – he has revisited this groove and vibe a lot on the albums that came after.

The band has gotten better for sure, as you won’t get a better guitarist than John 5 in your band, but for me, I don’t need to own anything else other than this.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Awake

November 10, 2021 /

Whereas the previous album Images And Words was the one that brought them to worldwide attention (mainly due to the single Pull Me Under), this – their second album – was the one that cemented their status as Prog metal kings. This album is truly a superb record where they pulled out all of the stops as they knew this was their big chance – and boy did they deliver.

Everything about this album is pure class. From the intricate arrangements, wonderful melodies, and unbelievable playing, this is the album that laid down a template for every Prog metal band that came after. 6.00 is such a killer opening and contains everything I love about this era of the band. The opening to Caught In A Web is jaw droppingly amazing and has a great D-tuned riff and groove. The musicianship is just off the charts. If this was some jazz fusion supergroup the critics would be moistening themselves. I remember reading some very average reviews about this record at the time, which just blew my mind. Side 3 opens with The Mirror and Lie is as good as it gets, absolute epic stuff, and boy do I wish Mike Portnoy was still in the band.

I could go on and on about why and how awesome this record is, but you should get the message by now – and yes – every home should have one.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

BUDGIE – Nightflight

November 10, 2021 /

After the band’s return in 1980, this is the second album and Deliver Us From Evil would be the final release from that period. This is definitely the most melodic of all Budgie albums. The writing partnership between band founder, Burke Shelley, and guitarist, John Thomas, was working great and I for one was definitely surprised when they disappeared again without recording anything else until 2006.

Opening track, Turned To Stone, is a killer opening track with a great melody and hook – plus an awesome instrumental section. Keeping A Rendezvous is a cool song with a superb harmony and great guitar from Thomas. Reaper Of The Glory opens with a cool chord pattern and an almost shuffle groove. Side 1 closes out with She Used Me Up and is quite a simple riff and groove, very NWOBHM sounding.

Side 2 opens with the amazing Lay Down And Die – a great song and a killer ending. Apparatus is as close to a ballad as this band gets. Superstar is next, which is my favourite track on the album, and with a monster riff and groove, this track really swings. Change Your Ways follows and has a somewhat Beatles vibe to it but much heavier. The album closes out with Untitled Lullaby and is an acoustic piece – and if I’m honest, it’s a bit of a let down to close out the album, but it’s still a great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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