THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: March 25, 2023

EXODUS – Bonded By Blood

March 25, 2023 /

A band that gets overlooked somewhat when we are talking about the beginnings of thrash. Exodus should be included in the so-called “big four,” as other than Metallica’s Kill Em All, Bonded By Blood is the best early thrash album.

No let up right from the get go, it’s pedal firmly to the metal all the way. That twin guitar of Holt and Hunholt was the best, coupled with the crazed vocal style of Paul Baloff, who sadly is no longer with us, made Exodus special. Piranha, Strike Of The Beast, and my favourite A Lesson In Violence are insanely killer thrash epics.

Of course, Baloff was replaced by Zetro Souza after this album and I do love the records that came after, but this was a special album at a special place in time that will never be repeated.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

EMERSON LAKE PALMER – Brain Salad Surgery

March 25, 2023 /

The band the punks hated the most, as they saw them as all that was bad with the excesses of the music industry. And to a point, I have to agree with the whole stage show and the stabbing of the Hammond in Emerson’s solo was a tad ridiculous.

The first two pieces are interpretations of classical pieces with quite a patriotic version of Jerusalem and Toccata, which is cool if you like timpani solos. We have to wait until track 3 until we get to an original piece, a Greg Lake tune – Still You Turn Me On. This album is all about Karn Evil 9 though, which takes up the last track on Side 1 and the whole of Side 2. I think everyone is familiar with “Welcome my friends to the show that never ends” and other than Fanfare For The Common, this is their most well known piece. The whole of Side 2 is my favourite ELP moment.

Prog to jazz, and all points in between makes it very challenging indeed. Listening to it after such a long time it does sound quite dated, but I do have fond memories hearing it for the first time.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑