REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: November 23, 2022

MARCUS KING – Young Blood

This is Marcus’ second full length album after 2020’s El Dorado, and boy is this one a killer groovy rockin’ record. I love his voice and man, can he play geetar!!!

It’s Too Late opens up the album, and what a killer groovy rocker it is. A riff and groove to die for, and straight in as favourite track. Lie Lie Lie is just freakin’ awesome. A great old school funky rockin’ vibe, with a very busy beat and monster solo. Rescue Me slows things down with an Americana swamp blues vibe, and a great melody. Pain starts with an almost ZZ Top groove and riff, it sounds as though it was born in the deepest parts of Texas. Good and Gone closes out Side 1 with a very old school Bad Company-style and vibe.

Blood On The Tracks kicks Side 2 on its way and we are in RnB territory with a very soulful vocal and a slow deep groove. Hard Working Man is pure country blues with a heavy groove and feel. Great hook and chorus. Aim High follows and it has a slow and heavy blues riff and groove that drives this beauty along. Superb vocal and epic solo! Dark Cloud should be a single (someone please release as such!!!). Great tune! Whisper starts with a great sexy groove and riff that goes on through the tune, with an added obligatory epic solo and vocal to match. The album closes out with Blues Worse Than I Ever Had and I think the clue is in the title with added deep south vibes. I’m sure this will be album of the year somewhere as it so deserves to be.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

TYRON PACE – Long Live Metal

This was Primal Fear’s, Ralph Scheeper’s first band and this is their second release which came out in ’85, and it rips. I love this album. It’s for fans of old school classic metal.

The first track Shockwaves really pounds along. It has an almost thrash sound with killer guitars from Oliver Kauffman and Calo Rapallo, and that voice. It’s insane he outdoes Mr. Halford himself. Definitely my favourite track. Red Sweat is more of a classic heavy metal groove with dual guitars, but Priest are the template here only with a heavier twist. Play All Night is more of the same, a simple riff with a driving groove, a huge hook and chorus, plus a monster solo. Law And Order could have been on any Priest album, it’s that close. Wheels Of Love closes out Side 1 and what a ripper it is. Double kicks are giving it plenty and pounding hard.

Hot To Rock opens up Side 2 and this is the most commercial track yet. A great groove, a simple riff, and the cheesy “Long Live Metal” chorus. Wonderful! Shake Down follows and has the background groove that sounds like a steel mill pounding. Night Of The Wolves feels like an extra track from Screaming For Vengeance. Superb middle section! It does not let up in pace and groove as Raid The Victims just rips along, and the heavy crunch of the guitars doesn’t let up. The album closes out with Killers On The Highway and the initial main riff reminds me of Saxon, but the whole song feels like a beefed up old rock n’ roll tune. The best album that Judas Priest never made and a thoroughly enjoyable record.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.