REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: May 25, 2022

STILLWATER – s/t

Hailing from Macon, Georgia, which is the same area and musical vibes as the Allmans, and sounding not unlike Lynyrd Skynyrd, you get a picture of what these guys sound like. Add Molly Hatchet in the mix, and Stillwater are a love child of all three.

I first heard of this band when they appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test, and any band that has three guitars in their line up gets my attention. Stand out track is Sam’s Jam, which I guess you could say is their Freebird as it’s guitar all the way where all three trade licks. I bought this when it came out back in ’77 and it’s still a fun listen. They made one more album then they called it a day.  

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CIRCLES – Infinitas

Tech/Prog/Djent metaller’s from the land down under. This is the band’s first album released back in 2013 on British label, Basick Records. They used to be a killer label for all things awesome, djenty, and groove metal, but has since faded from view somewhat.

This is one hell of a record! Man, this grooves hard with some killer low end groove-age. The vocals are a mix of clean, very melodic, and growl screams. That doesn’t bother me a whole bunch when the they mix it up. The track, As It Is Above, and it’s companion piece, So It Is Below, is one of my favourite djent tracks by any of the band’s who go down that path. This is a monster track with superb grooves, beats, and deep monster riff-age. Add to that killer vocals and harmonies, and this is one of the best modern metal tracks that you won’t have heard of.

Even when things are more melodic in nature, on tracks like Another Me, which has superb vocals – the riffs and grooves are just insane. I know this is the norm now in this genre, but ten years ago this was from another world. Another track that blows my brain cells over my morning wheaties is close out track, Verum Infiniti. A superb lesson in how to use strange grooves and beats mixed with max heavy tune-age.

A killer band that deserve your support. I think this is still available through the band themselves, and it’s a must have for any metal fan who wants to expand their mind.

10/10 from The Grooveman.