THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2022 (Page 1 of 11)

MASTODON – Blood Mountain

September 24, 2022 /

This is the band’s third album, and was released in 2006. It’s cool to see how far they have come in those 16 years. It’s a concept album based around getting lost on a mountain and the experiences one would have. I’m sure some chemicals must have been imbibed at some point, as I’m sure my imagination would not conjure up themes as this.

The first two tracks, The Wolf Is Loose, and Crystal Skull, are quite heavy and speedy with some great riffs and hooks. Sleeping Giant is more of the direction the band are in today – a great change of pace and vibe. Capillarian Crest was released as a single, and is a very busy tune with so much going on riff and groove wise. They were nominated for a Grammy for the track, Colony Of Birchmen. That would have been cool if they had won. My favourite track on the record is Hunters Of The Sky. I love the proggy intro before the chaos begins. There is so much happening in this tune it’s incredible.

I love the whole production by the band and Matt Bayles – it’s a killer sounding album. Mastodon are a one-off that keep on making killer records that progress from one to the next, and long may they do so.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – Persistence Of Time

September 24, 2022 /

This is the last of the initial burst of Joey albums before he was unceremoniously dumped from the band – for reasons that I’m not sure anybody knows. Other than Among The Living, this is my favourite Thrax album. Not a bad moment to be heard on any of the grooves. After State Of Euphoria, which didn’t go down too well with the critics, I think this is a big F-U to all the haters – it’s a very heavy and superb record.

The opening of Time is crushing, with that relentless beat of the snare and killer riff – this is one of the best openings on any Anthrax record. Quickly followed by Blood, which has a monster intro before it settles down into that classic Anthrax blast. A monster rendition of Joe Jackson’s Got The Time, which was a surprise hit as a single, and was the surprise of the album. Discharge has to be one of the fastest most hardcore songs the band ever did. Keep It In The Family is my favourite track – it has one of those riffs that only Anthrax throw out that just makes you want to mosh. I love the pick up to this as the riff builds, and this is one of the best thrash tracks.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

HOLTER – Vlad The Impaler

September 23, 2022 /

Forgive me if I’m wrong here, but this was originally a one-off project from Trond Holter (Wig Wam) and Jorn Lande, based as a Dracula Rock Opera. I guess when things become successful, it make sense to resurrect the project and try to take it forward. This time the project carries Holter’s name, and is all about Vlad The Impaler.

First things first – the production is epic and sounds freakin’ huge. The lead off track, Worlds On Fire, is just killer. Fat monster guitar and a vocal very reminiscent of Wig Wam – which is not a bad thing as I really like that band (this sounds a lot heavier though). Awakened is up next and let’s carry on with those epic vibes. Huge melody and hook and that massive guitar sound is always just underneath. Drums Of Doom is just evil. The marching beat aligned to THAT guitar sound, and then horses at the ready, we’re off to a good old Maiden gallop. Killer riff and groove to the intro of The Last Generation, and you can tell Mr. Holter wants this to be another rock opera – every melody and hook is very cinematic and huge. Side 1 closes out with I’ll Die For You, and boy what a killer riff and pounding groove.

Shadows Of Love is the big ballad on the album and is very theatrical. It’s favourite track time, and Without You is a belter. Fantastic heavy riff and double kicks all the way. Another evil sounding piece with a seriously epic vocal. Killer tune! Under My Skin features Eva Erichsen on vocals, and this was a close second for my favourite tune. I love the instrumental section on this, and that riff! The instrumental title track follows with a very classical opening, and then a superb chugga riff kicks in – it does have a somewhat medieval vibe. The album closes out with Save Me Part 2 – where do they get all these riffs from? A seemingly never ending supply. Another killer tune to sign off on. I love the duelling vocals.

A monster production and a killer record. A warning though, as this pressing is very noisy and this is the third copy I have had. Frontiers really need to get their act together as I think this is album number 6 of theirs I have problems with.

9.5 /10 from The Grooveman.

BRONZ – Taken By Storm

September 23, 2022 /

The band have been around since the late seventies, but it wasn’t until ’84 that they released this – their 1st album. They got thrown in with the NWOBHM bands initially ,as any band with guitars and an image were classed among them.

The first track on the album is Send Down An Angel, which is very AOR/ Melodic rock. A great track if you were in America at the time, but this was Britain in ’84 and things were a lot more metal-centric. Bronz actually released it as the lead off single. Heat Of The Night sounds a lot more heavy, mainly due to the great guitar riff – at times it sounds very Styx. The Cold Truth opens up like something from a Toto album of the time, and that’s not a bad thing – I’m a big lover of that band. Night Runner starts with a simple (yet awesome) riff, and I like the guitar sound. The title track closes out Side 1, and I have heard the main riff and groove many times before.

Side 2 kicks off with Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya, and it’s not as mushy as it sounds. Nice hook and chorus – maybe this should have been the single. Sweet Lady follows, and I’m loving the main riff and groove and awesome key changes. Harder Than Diamond is power ballad time. Tiger is an OK track with some simple riffing, but it’s the lead into the chorus that’s really cool. Saving the best ’till last – my favourite tune on the record, Loneliness Is Mine. Great riff and groove and this is as metal as this album greats. Big shout out to Max Bacon as his vocals are top drawer, and he is the only one to have carried on after the band ended, showing up in loads of projects.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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