REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: February 2023 (Page 3 of 9)

DEFTONES – White Pony

After the initial burst of curiosity I had with all the nu-metal acts, I soon lost interest as the quality was distinctly lacking. This was Deftones’ third album, released in 2000, and some critics say it’s the band’s best. Not afraid to experiment with sounds and genres, they come across like a metal version of Radiohead.

Listen to Digital Bath and it hits you straight in the face. It has a very mellow groove and vibe – a very non metal experience. Elite on the other hand is pure nu-metal, heavy riffs with a danceable low end groove, screamed vocal, and it’s the winner of the favourite track award. RX Queen is the track that is right out there and crosses into new Prog. The rest of the album is along these lines and they are the most interesting band to come out of the whole nu-metal thing.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – We’ve Come For You All

This is album number nine from New York’s finest, released in 2003 and the last to feature John Bush, and the inevitable return of Joey Belladonna. It took them four albums to get it right with John Bush and then when they do, they pull the plug.

This is one of the heaviest albums the band have done and the ferocity in Bush’s vocals fit perfectly. What Doesn’t Die is just brutal and Charlie’s drumming is unreal. Why they never released Superhero as a single is beyond me. Superb riff and groove, and that spoken vocal has a great crossover appeal. Same goes for Refuse To Be Denied, another killer tune that should have been pushed more. Love the intro to Any Place But Here, and if this doesn’t get you bouncing around the room with that riff and groove then your groove muscle needs a tune up. It’s my favourite song. The big surprise on this album is Taking The Music Back, there is a guest appearance by none other than Roger Daltrey.

If you were to only own one of the John Bush albums then this has to be it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GEORGE LYNCH – Kill All Control

This album first came out in 2011, but this a Deadline reissue. I’m a huge fan of the George and he has become very prolific in the latter stages of his career releasing some killer work, both solo and in projects.

This album, although a solo album, feels like a band. First track in is the title track and man what a killer opening it is. Superb hook and chorus, and George is imperious best playing a killer solo and the riff and groove are superb. Done follows and has a wicked groove, and the guilt sound is awesome. Flys On The Wall is next, I really love the hook and chorus, and the groove is slightly different. Brand New Day starts with a slow groove, and the vocal is very 90’s in style. Wicked Witch is quite a laid back acoustic piece until they plug in to power ballad territory. Love that guitar intro to Voices In My Head, it’s the same vocal style by (I think) Will Martin, and the solo saves the day as it’s top drawer from George. Killer groove at the intro to Resurrect Your Soul, then when the main guitar kicks in its pure Dokken.

Rattlesnake opens up Side 3 and the hook and chorus are superb. Keith St John provides the vocals on this one, plus the George adds the sprinkles with another killer solo. It’s favourite track time next with Sun. A killer drum and guitar intro with Marq Torien on vocals. Such a great tune that stands out because of that weird, almost rockabilly intro. Man On Fire follows and that heavy blues guitar riff is awesome. My Own Enemy is a slower groove, but that solo is just superb. I’m sure everyone is familiar with George’s famous solo piece Mr. Scary, well this is an updated version, albeit with a slightly different main riff and the groove swings a lot more. Got it Alone closes out the album proper and this is pure LA Sunset Strip groovearama. I love that riff and guitar tone. There is a bonus track on this version: Someone You Loved, a cover of the Lewis Capaldi track.

Another solid album by George and I’m sure this year will bring some surprises.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

PARADISE LOST – The Plague Within

I’ll admit that this band passed me by somewhat. I bought their first album upon its release in 1990, and I was quite disappointed so I put them to one side thinking they were not for me. Fast forward to last year when digging through the sale bins in a store in Buffalo, I came across this MOV release of this their 2015 album brand new for $10. Never one to overlook a bargain, I scooped it up.

As pioneers of that doom/death sound, they have moved on a hell of a lot since that first album, mainly due to the production value. This album sounds huge and the songs are all of epic proportions, and the D-tuned guitars add to the epic doomscape.

The tracks that stand out most are the ones where a glint of melody shine through the darkness, namely An Eternity Of Lies (my favourite piece) which blends the melody and doom perfectly, and the Sabbath-influenced Cry Out.

I found this album to be a pleasant surprise, although I’m not sure if I could listen to this type of music constantly.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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