THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: November 2022 (Page 6 of 13)

BRITNY FOX – Bite Down Hard

November 18, 2022 /

Big thanks to the people at Real Gone Music for this very striking vinyl reissue. But, where’s the quality control with the cover and wrong track listing? Tut tut!

This is the band’s third release, and the first with Tommy Paris on vocals after the departure of a dizzy Dean Davidson to form Blackeyed Susan. We are off to a killer start with Six Gins Loaded, an uptempo blast with a killer groove and riff, as well as some epic guitar from guest Zakk Wylde. It’s my favourite track. Louder slows things down a tad with a very dirty simple riff, as well as a hook and a chorus to die for. Very catchy indeed! Liar starts with a very country-style acoustic before the main riff, which is a very sleazy barroom groove. Great drum sound! Closer To Your Love is pure LA glam complete with the huge sounding simple riff and the sing-a-long chorus. We close out Side 1 with Over And Out, and it’s big ballad time.

Shot From My Gun opens up Side 2 and it’s glam overload. Again, a very simple riff, catchy groove, and cheesy sing-a-long chorus is all you need. It’s anthem time with Black And White. It has a football chant-style chorus. Look My Way is my least favourite on the album. I know a lot of people like these soppy ballads with balls type tunes, but they just don’t do it for me. Back to the sleazy glam with Lonely To Long, a killer groove and AC/DC riff. The album closes out with Midnight Moses, a cover of the Alex Harvey song, and other than the heavier guitar it’s a fair cover of the classic original. I think I like this album is the best of all their releases.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SANTERS – Shot Down In Flames

November 18, 2022 /

Yet another killer three piece hard rock combo from Toronto. This is the band’s debut album, released in ’81. I bought Racing Time, which was the album after this, but I could not find this album back in the day. Named after the talents of the Santers brothers, Rick on guitar and lead vocals, Mark on drums and vocals, and Rick Lazeroff made up the trio on bass. I’m a sucker for a three piece and these guys don’t disappoint.

The Rapper is a great opening, a really cool riff, groove, and hook and melody. Crazy Ladies follows and starts with a busy drum pattern very reminiscent of Zeppelin, but the melody and hook are very cool and all their own – plus it’s my favourite track on the album. You Turn Me On is more of a straight up foot to floor rocker with a really cool solo. Time After Time changes the groove and vibe to an almost funk, and the verse and chorus are really commercial. Lost And Found closes out Side 1 with a very sparse riff and groove, I love the middle section. Great solo!

Shot Down In Flames opens up Side 2 and is a tribute to Bon Scott. No, it’s not a cover of the DC classic, but it’s probably the weakest song on the album even though the solo is cool. Caught In The Wind has a gallop groove and beat. It reminds me of April Wine with the melody. Paths Of Heart has a very British feel about it with the harmony guitars sounding like Thin Lizzy. We are at the last track Points Of Resistance, and the guitar solo in the middle is really cool. A decent first album that sets them up nicely for the one to follow.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CONCEPTION – Flow

November 17, 2022 /

A big pat on the back to Noise Records for reissuing the first four Conception albums. I’m a big fan of In Your Multitude and this beauty, Flow. Extra bonus points for putting unreleased material on the fourth side instead of the pointless etched side. If Prog metal is your thing and you don’t own this, then I suggest adding it to your collection.

Gethsemane gets us under way, the beautiful melody and cool guitar is just haunting. Superb opening track! Angel is a lot heavier, that riff is epic and what a killer vocal from Roy Khan. This album is a lot more accessible than previous efforts with the melodies and hooks being a lot more prominent. A Virtual Love Story mixes the crunch with the melody perfectly. I love the bass groove in the middle section.

The title track opens up Side 2 and the this is about as commercial as the band have ever been, it’s my favourite track on the album. A superb melody and hook, and the vocal is just superb. Cry is a slower number with emphasis on the vocal and an almost hip hop beat. Reach Out starts with an electronic drum groove and fuzzed bass, then the song falls into a very heavy riff and choppy groove. A very heavy slow groove and riff to Tell Me When I’m Gone. It sounds killer!!!

Side C starts with Hold On, it is almost medieval in its sound with harpsichord and strings. Cardinal Sin is a close second for the best track award. I love the main melody and hook, it’s a goosebump moment for sure. Big shout out to guitarist Tore Ostby whose playing throughout is killer. The album properly closes out with Would It Be The Same, a heavy dose of the chuggas kicks things along, and as with every song on the album the melody and hooks are huge.

Side 4 is bonus material with a demo of Cry, the very heavy Hand On Heart which is awesome, and Sundance which is a latin acoustic romp. The band would fold after this and Khan would jump to Kamelot, and Ostby would start up the short loved Ark with John Lande. Superb album!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

AC/DC – Black Ice

November 17, 2022 /

Black Ice was released in 2008, eight years after Stiff Upper Lip. But I’m a Bon era fan!! I first discovered AC/DC properly with the Let There Be Rock album, and that uptempo hard boogie was just too irresistible for a young rocker like myself. It was a big blow when Bon died and they came back with Back In Black, their most well known album. To expect the band to sound like they did in ’76 is not going to happen.

It’s a very well produced and crisp sounding album, it has its moments. The opening track Rock N’ Roll Train is a typical mid tempo DC groover, and is a solid opening. Big Jack is my favourite track, I love the riff and groove. War Machine is very similar, it’s all about the riff and groove. There’s a raft of songs with the same groove like Spoilin For A Fight, but there are also a lot slow and more bluesy songs like Rockin’ All The Way. All in all it’s a solid DC album, and I’m glad they are still rockin’ with us.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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