REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: May 2023 (Page 4 of 11)

OPETH – My Arms Your Hearse

This is album number three from Sweden’s finest exponents of Prog metal, although at this point melodic death metal would have been more accurate as Michael’s deathly screams far outweigh the cleans at this point in the band’s progression.

This album first appeared in ’98 but this version is a 2021 reissue and I guess Candlelight will keep doing these reissues for as long as they can, like Relapse do with the early Mastodon catalogue. Quite simply, this album is superb. I love every note on this record and you forget how good “old” Opeth were and how melodic and dramatic some death metal music can be.

It’s hard to look past Demon Of The Fall as my favourite track because it’s such a total beast of a song that they thankfully still play today. April Ethereal and Circle Of The Tyrant are equally as epic, and just for shits and giggles April Ethereal gets todays vote.

I know this is not everyone’s slice of pie, but man it’s so good.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GENESIS – s/t

Is this the album where Genesis went totally pop and left good old Prog town behind? Well, I would say it’s split 50-50 for sure, but I also think that Mama is Collin’s era Genesis’ finest hour. A superb track that uses all of the tech around at the time to create a very striking sonic masterpiece, and when the huge drums kick in it sounds incredible. Then again, I really don’t like Illegal Alien it’s totally the opposite of how awesome Mama is. A throwaway tune for sure, and yes I’m well aware how well it did as a single which sought of makes my point.

Home By The Sea is as close as Prog Side 1 gets, and a song I really like but the electronic simmonds drums on Second Home By The Sea are very annoying. I really like Just A Job To Do and Silver Rainbow, they are Collin’s Genesis at their best.

So yes, I’m split on this album as 50% of it gets 9/10 and the other 50% gets 5/10. You decide which is which.

LAW AND ORDER – Guilty Of Innocence

Appearing out of nowhere in ’89, although being tagged with all the hair bands around at the time, Law And Order’s sound was anything but. Coming across as more of a modern take on that classic Aerosmith sound, but when grunge hit they were thrown to one side like the rest of the 80’s crowd. They were probably ahead of the curve really, as that whole retro thing is hot news right now.

Opener We Don’t See God is a beast of a tune and you feel that Aero vibe right from the get go. Dawg follows and has a great hook and chorus with a hint of barroom sleaze thrown in. Your Sister Does is next up and the vibe and groove slow somewhat and vocalist Shane reminds me of Eddie Vedder on this one (of all the people). It’s favourite track time next with Say You Love Me. Killer slide opening and that whole dirty rock n’ roll swagger and groove of this tune is awesome.

We are off to Zeppelin 4 territory next with I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today, and that acoustic sounds so familiar. Kick ass riff to open up with on Possession Of Control, a great uptempo groover. I love the opening vibe to No Love Lost with those killer blues licks and that driving bass underneath. The fast blast that is Needle And The Spoon closes out Side 1.

In The Shelter opens up Side 2 with more of that acoustic Zeppelin feel. Back to the riffs with next track Love Reality, a quick fire dirty rock n’ roll romp. Next up is Soul Inside which was released as a single. Layers of 12 strings give way to some nice riffage, and for some strange reason the band Yes pop into my head. Delta Prison Blues does what it says on the tin. An acoustic blues with some nice slide played underneath. Back to the dirty rock n’ roll swagger with Downtown Suicide, I love the chorus and hook on this one. We close out the album with Whiskey, it takes a while to get revved up but when it does this baby beasts its way to the end of the record.

Cool record!

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BATTLEAXE – Power From The Universe

A second wave NWOBHM band from South of the River Tyne for a change. This album was released in ’84 and was the band’s second album, and ultimately their last until 2014 when a reunion of sorts happened.

You can see and hear why they never made it out of the lower divisions, so to speak, as they do have some decent tunes but overall this album is lacking that one killer track to sell the album and lift it above the ordinary. The two best tracks are Chopper Attack on Side 1, and (my favourite) Power From The Universe from Side 2. Other than that, it’s pub rock all the way.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

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