THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: May 2023 (Page 10 of 11)

DANGEROUS TOYS – Pissed

May 3, 2023 /

So after the band’s two releases for major label Columbia, they (like many other bands) were dropped after the arrival of the great grunge unpleasantness. Although that was the end for a lot of bands, Dangerous Toys carried on for another two records, of which this was the first and released in ’94. Compared to the first two albums, this one is a little darker and heavier sounding, hence the title of the album and first track.

Paintrain starts with an old school heavy Aerosmith groove and feel, and the toxic twins would have been proud of this one. The Law Is Mine is a full on up tempo sleaze fest with just a hint of the Faces. Promise The Moon takes the vibe way down with an acoustic driven sound until after the first verse when Jason McMaster gives it his full on Rod Stewart homage. Side 1 closes out with Strange a great tune with hint of GnR attitude.

Over to Side 2 we go with opener Loser and the sleaze/dirty rock n’ roll vibe just oozes from every note. Hard Luck Champion follows and it’s my favourite tune. I love the swing to the groove and the dynamics are great. Screaming For More has a great acoustic, uptempo, barroom, Americana vibe. This is the sleeper track on the album. Oh Well So What has a great FU attitude and grooves hard with an AC/DC on speed vibe. The album closes out with Illustrated Man, a mid tempo sleaze fest rocker.

If you like that dirty sleazy rock n’ roll vibe then I guess you may already have this, but if not then give it a try you may be surprised.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

FATE – Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’

May 2, 2023 /

Hailing from Denmark this is Fate’s third album, released in ’88. The grooves contain some of the slickest melodic rock/aor outside of the US.

Beneath Da Coconuts gets things underway in fine style with a great uptempo melodic rocker. Love On The Rox is a superb track, I really love the heavy Toto vibe that is being played with some killer guitar from Mr. Moth. The melodic grooves continue with Knock On Wood, a really cool simple four to the floor groover with a killer hook and chorus. Lovers is a huge aor/pop beast with the keys adding the right amount of pomp. Side 1 closes out with Dead Boy Cold Meat. A kick ass Hot For Teacher-style groove with some killer guitar.

It’s ballad time with Side 2 opener, Babe You Got A Friend. The track does beef up a little after the intro but unless you’re Brian Adams, no one opens up a side with a ballad. Lock You Up starts with a nice loud riff and a 4-4 groove, a very radio friendly tune. Cupid Shot Me is another tune where the tempo his high driven with a great simple picked riff. Greta track! Diamond In The Rough keeps the tempo high and the keys give it the 80’s stamp of approval and date it somewhat, but another kick ass tune. We close out the album with Send A Little Money, possibly the heaviest sounding track on the album and it’s my favourite. A great fat riff and heavy guitar sound coupled with a huge drums make it a winner.

Great band, great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION – Tattooed Beat Messiah

May 2, 2023 /

I remember when these guys first burst on the scene. I was watching some music show in the UK and my initial thought was “what the hell was that?”, and not in a positive way. I was sure it was just some flash in the pan boom and they’re gone kinda deal. I think a lot better of them now of course.

Prime Mover is a pretty good opening track and it was all over the radio at the time, but the main chord progression if you listen closely is just Living After Midnight by the mighty Priest. In fact, all this album is chock full of simple get down and groove rockers, and let’s face it, sometime simple is best. Skill Spark Joker is just that a four to the floor groove, a simple but effective chord progression and a very catchy hook and chorus. What more do you want really?!

I think this is as close as any British band came to that whole Sunset Strip vibe, and they really should have been bigger than they were. My favourite track is Let’s Break The Law. A slightly different vibe and groove with a huge guitar sound, and that always gets bonus points from me.

Other than two EP’s this was the band’s first full length album and quite frankly it’s a great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

KING DIAMOND – Abigail

May 1, 2023 /

This is album number two for King Billy after his departure from Mercyful Fate, it was released back in ’87. It is a concept album roughly about the couple Miriam and Jonathan LeFey who inherit an old mansion and are warned not to stay in it. Of course they do, and this tale is about their creepy goings on and it is quite possibly one of metal’s best concept albums.

After the weird spoken intro, the album starts properly with Arrival a kick ass metal romp with King B’s voice covering all the spectrum as he deIves into different characters. Musically, it reminds me a tad of Iron Maiden. A Mansion In The Darkness is my favourite tune as it rips along at a kick ass pace with maximum riffage to go alongside the drama with some epic guitar noodling for added sparkle. The Family Ghost is next up and the feel and riff is a bit NWOBHM with more aggression. Some eerie acoustic noodling opens up Side 1 closer The 7th Day Of July1777, before max riffage and heavy grooves courtesy of Mickey Dee on the pots and pans.

Omens opens up Side 2. I’m a sucker for a killer riff and groove to match, and this hits the spot for me. The Possession has a very simple riff and groove to open things up before the double kicks start blasting away, and the middle eight is super cool. The title track follows and I’m not sure how many personalities are occupying King Billy here, but I guess it’s a few. Some killer guitar playing from Andy La Rocque as well. The album closes out with Black Horseman, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you had put a Styx album on the deck of doom before insanity ensues and you are brought back to reality. In its own way, it’s just as demonic sounding as early Sabbath.

A very entertaining album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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