THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: December 2022 (Page 6 of 11)

SKID ROW – Subhuman Race

December 13, 2022 /

Controversial opinion incoming! I prefer this album and the heavier approach, to the hair glam version of 18 And Life. The tunes are way heavier, dirtier, and groovier. It was tough times in the nineties if you were perceived as a hair band, and Skid Row tried to be relevant  by recording this beast of a record. If any of you have seen any of the Pantera home movies you will have seen that the two bands toured together around this time, and believe me, you have to be on the money to survive with those guys.

I love every inch of this record because this is them being themselves and boy does this album smoke. My Enemy is just immense, huge heavy groove and riffage and Bach just sings his ass off. Firesign is freaking wonderful and gets me every time as I love how Seb sings the melody, and that groove is awesome. Bonehead is almost punk rock at the intro, but that riff will get you banging that head. Beat Yourself Blind follows and is just pure raw energy with the production to match. Eileen starts like a Nirvana tune to match the age it was recorded, and it is very Seattle. Remains To Be Seen has a very Alice In Chains vibe. I love the main riff, and instrumental section is really cool. Subhuman Race just wants to melt your face. Maximum pounding groove with a riff to match, and Seb just rips on the vocal.

Huge guitar intro to Frozen, with a nice twisted heavy groove. Turn this one up it’s huge!!! A super cool change in tempo and vibe with Into Another. Great vocal from Seb! It’s favourite track time with the arrival of Face Against My Soul. Amazing riff and groove that hits all the right places for me. The pounding continues with Medicine Man. Killer riffage and Seb is just raging on this one. We slow things way down with Breakin Down, which has an Americana vibe and feel with Seb showing the delicate side of his voice. Iron Will closes out the album and I think we are going to blow the doors off. Monster riffage and killer vocals! I wish they could make up their differences as this line up smokes! Eric Gronwal is an awesome singer, but Seb was made for these tunes.

10/10 from The Grooveman

YES – Fragile

December 13, 2022 /

Yes are a strange band to a lot of people and they have existed in many variations, personnel wise, and it can be quite confusing to the average music fan as to which version you are seeing. Musically, it’s a lot easier as it’s before or after Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Before, they were one of the grandfathers of British Prog and it was always bewildering to me that they were so big in America.

One of the reasons for this was the song Roundabout, which did really well in the US and it’s the song that opens up this album. The hook and the melody are very commercial sounding, but musically it’s quite a busy tune. The single was edited somewhat upon its release to make it more radio friendly. There are basically five tracks on the album that are joined together by short instrumental pieces, which at times sound as though they are just jamming around. The big song on the album is Heart Of The Sunrise, which weighs in just shy of twelve minutes and is Yes at their proggiest. There is so much happening musically to keep the listener entertained and this is Yes at their best, it’s my favourite track on the album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ECLIPSE – Bleed And Scream

December 12, 2022 /

This is the band’s fourth album, released back in 2012, and it is one of their best. They are without doubt, one of the best melodic rock bands around today, giving that right amount of crunch to add to the superb melodies. Erik Martensson is a genius and really knows how to write a tune, and with his main partner in crime Magnus Henriksson, they have created their own sound.

The opening track Wake Me Up really is a statement track. The main riff hits you straight away and coupled with that killer groove, it is one of best opening tracks you could wish for. The title track follows and again the main riff is killer, as is the hook and chorus. This band should be huge! Ain’t Dead Yet starts with double heavy chugga guitars and double kicks that any metal band would be proud of. Add to that the superb melodic vocal and melody, it’s a killer crossover tune. Battlegrounds starts with a powerful riff and groove, and the hook and chorus are huge. A Bitter Taste is a power ballad with the emphasis on the power, the middle section is epic with some killer guitar. Falling Down closes out Side 1, it has a big riff, big groove, and big everything else. Great track.

Side 2 kicks off with S.O.S and again, we have a very metal opening coupled with the melody of the vocal. Take Back The Fear just smokes and is my favourite track. It is the fastest song on the album, but there is no sacrifice of the melody as the hook and chorus are epic. The Unspoken Heroes follows and the quality keeps on coming. It has a riff that reminds me a tad of Thin Lizzy, but with a lot heavier groove. About To Break is up next and it’s power ballad number two. The harmonies and vocals are huge. The album closes out with After The End Of The World and we are going out with a bang with that trademark chugga riffage. A monster track to end on! A great band and every rock fan should own at least one of their albums!!!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

AEROSMITH – Rocks

December 12, 2022 /

There is a whole generation of rockers who think Aerosmith were nothing before Permanent Vacation, and the introduction of outside writers to make them chart heroes. To me, the new Aerosmith is a completely different band to the one that recorded this masterpiece. 1976 this was unleashed on the world, and it was their fourth full length album. Of course, the chemical intake was nearly at its peak and would cause the toxic twins to go separate ways a couple of albums later. Despite that, they still managed to record what many people think is their best record.

Side 1 starts with Back In The Saddle, an all time classic Aero tune and that’s followed by Last Child, which is probably Brad Whitford’s best contribution song-wise. Then we get the souped up groove of Rats In The Cellar, the band at their rockin’ best. Combination closes out Side 1.

Side 2 is just as good with Sick As A Dog, Nobody’s Fault, the ripping Get The Lead Out Nobody’s Fault, and Lick And A Promise. All killer Aerosmith classics that have kept them in drugs and booze for many years. They took what the Stones and the Beatles did and blended the sound together with added attitude, and ran with it. Great band and album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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