THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: June 2023 (Page 1 of 10)

LORDS OF BLACK – Icons Of The New Days

June 30, 2023 /

This is the Spanish band’s third album, released in 2018. Now, I’m sure most of you may be unfamiliar with Lords of Black but you may know of the vocalist, who fronted the last version of Rainbow that Ritchie Blackmore put together. You can see why Ritchie picked him as he has that Dio tone to his voice.

Before we get into it, I have to say this is one of the best sounding Frontiers pressings I have heard; very clear and crisp. If power metal is your thing, then this should be right up your alley.

World Gone Mad is a song in three parts that opens up the proceedings. Ronnie’s voice is so powerful and a sense of the dramatic is ever present, not only in this tune but throughout the album. Icons Of The New Day emphasizes that point perfectly, and coupled with a nice fat riff from guitarist Tony Hernandez makes this a great tune. Not In A Place Like This opens up with some beastly double kicks and a very heavy staccato riff, and the vocal melody just sits nicely over the top.

A very speedy riff and groove open up Side 2 with When A Hero Takes A Fall. I love the dual guitar sound and that fat sounding guitar on the main chords. Forevermore just sounds like an extension of the previous track as the groove and riffs are very familiar at the intro. A nice change in pace and feel flows into the intro of The Way I’ll Remember. A main riff that’s more at home in a melodic rock band like Dokken. Fallin’ ends the first disc and the eye and ear is on the vocal melody as this is the most commercial sounding track yet.

Kings Reborn opens up Side 3 and that slow pounding riff and groove sound so familiar. That main riff is huge and epic though. Back to the big chugga riffing on Long Way To Go and it’s a very infectious song. As I have said many times, sometimes simple is best and that’s definitely the case here. The Edge Of Darkness again brings the chugga’s with a much heavier vibe. Massive riffage and double kicks all the away with Wait No Prayers For The Dying; definitely my favourite track. Lots of energy and heavy groove with this one, and you could swear Dio was singing in there. The album closes out with All I Have Left, the epic of the album. At 11:32 it’s the longest song and delivers big time with a very slow ballad intro then it just grows and grows.

A great sounding and very enjoyable record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TRIUMPH – Stages

June 30, 2023 /

Here we have a Triumph live album that has been coupled together over many shows from three separate tours between 1981-85. Now, I have seen Triumph a number of times and they always deliver a great show but when Gil sings there is a definite lack of focal point, with them only being a three piece.

I have to say, this is great selection of songs and you forget what an amazing player Rik Emmett is. He definitely was my focal point and I loved Triumph for what he brought to the band. It’s hard to pick a favourite here as there are so many great performances, but I really love the version of Never Surrender. Rik’s solo is very fiery and Rock N’ Roll Machine was always one of the tracks I loved to play. (What is it with Canada and trios?)

It’s not a proper live album as such, it’s more of a live greatest hits but nevertheless very entertaining.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SHINEDOWN – Planet Zero

June 29, 2023 /

Shinedown are one of the better new rock bands to come out of the “Nickelback” era, and definitely the most consistent in terms of quality of tunes. Formed by vocalist Brent Smith, they have gone from strength to strength. Planet Zero is the band’s latest offering, released in 2022.

Opening up with the melodic thrash of No Sleep Tonight, the listener is immediately brought to attention with this pedal to the metal rocker. Definitely my favourite song. The heavy melodic tones of the title track are up next with an almost military groove and as usual, Smith cooks up a killer hook and chorus with guitarist Zach Myers bringing the crunch. After a weird robotic intro, Dysfunctionaly You is next up. Smith’s vocals are the main focus here, with what is essentially a ballad but is so much more. The heavy returns with the HUGE sounding riff at the intro to Dead Don’t Die. An absolutely massive vibe with that slow pounding groove. Killer tune!

The robotic electronic weirdness is back as a prelude to America Burning, a statement to today’s US. I would call this a trademark Shinedown tune, it’s a style they do so well. Another interlude runs into A Symptom Of Being Human and we finally get to power ballad country. Hope starts as a mirror image to the previous tune but builds and builds with the melody and harmony taking full control, it would be a perfect single. Clueless And Dramatic brings a return to the melodic heaviness. It’s a big, down tuned riff and groove with the usual massive hook and chorus. Sure Is Fun does what it says on the tin. There is an effect on the vocals that sounds odd, but then again so does the rest of the track. Alight wraps up this side and basically it’s just Brent’s incredible voice and a piano for a huge chunk of the piece.

The final side begins with more AI before The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo rips in with fuzzed up guitar, then that heavy groove just grabs you. Army Of The Underappreciated is up next and it’s a modern punk rock groove and feel. The last interlude is followed by the final track What You Wanted, and it’s as close to a modern pop masterpiece you will hear.

Sound Of Madness is still the album I love most from them, but this is a good album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LOST BOYS – Lost And Found

June 29, 2023 /

I don’t know a lot about this band. I do know that vocalist Randy O was in Odin, and guitarist Jeff Duncan was also in Odin and Armoured Saint. Musically, it’s your typical hair/glam metal of the time and you either love Randy’s vocals or you don’t. He has a distinct gravelly scream that is more familiar in the LA sleaze bands of the time.

This album was released in ’90 and it’s another one and they’re done record. As I mentioned earlier, musically it’s quite good and Jeff Duncan is a great guitar player who gives delightful flourishes all across the album. Highlights for me are the opening of Cryin’ Out and Right On Track, both have a cool riff and groove. Cool Me Down with its Hot For Teacher vibe and some killer guitar from Jeff. My favourite track is the pure party rock of In The Middle. A great groove and riff that really swings.

There are some really bad reviews of this album in various dark corners of the interweb, but they obviously couldn’t get passed the vocal style of Randy and yes, on some tracks like Lonely Man when they are isolated his vocals do sound rough. For me, the vocals come last as I always latch onto the riff and the groove first.

5/10 vocals and 8/10 everything else from The Grooveman.

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