THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: June 2023 (Page 2 of 10)

PANTERA – Far Beyond Driven

June 28, 2023 /

This is the last great Pantera album. Sure, they had moments after this but inner turmoil within the band definitely affected subsequent releases. I know I go on about groove quite a lot in my reviews, but these guys had it nailed. If you need a lesson in groove in metal then Pantera should be your teachers. I will pick out five tracks to emphasize this.

Opening tune Strength Beyond Strength starts like the devil is on their tails at a ferocious pace with killer riffage, but then they insert a pure groove section to keep you entertained. Becoming is a groove metal monster. Right from the get go Dime and Vinnie are locked together giving it the beans. In fact, this song is all about the groove. Next, I will pick the king of all Pantera grooves: 5 Minutes Alone. All the way through, right until nearly the fade when the groove gets even deeper and grooving away into the silence. Awesome! I’m Broken, the daddy of all groovy riffs. Vinnie’s drums are killer, and this is another tune that keeps grooving all the way. The middle eight and the end are superb examples of how to groove in metal. Shedding Skin is an example of a heavier tune that keeps the groove going throughout, but that change in gear mid way through is so epic it’s one of my favourite Dime and Vinnie moments.

Forever missed!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

THE JONESES – Keeping Up With The Joneses

June 28, 2023 /

This band started life as a punk band back in ’81, but by the time this album was recorded in ’86 they had evolved into more of a barroom rock n’ roll combo.

The sound is very raw and feels almost like a one take record. The groove ranges from out and out punk with MS.714, through Faces grooves like Jungle Disease, and even the Stones with Chip Away At The Stone and Looks So Good. My favourite however is the shambolic punk thrash of Elton John’s Crocodile Rock.

This a is very raw sounding album and if you like your rock as mentioned then check it out.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

PRIMAL FEAR – Apocalypse

June 27, 2023 /

This is album number twelve for the German heavy metal powerhouse, and was released in 2018. It is somewhat ironic that Primal Fear only came into being after Ralf Scheepers did not get the gig to replace Rob Halford in Judas Priest, as their output has been more Priest than the original. There should be no lack in ideas for riffs as Alex Beyrodt and Magnus Karlsson are two of the best players out there.

After the title track, New Rise rips your face off immediately as the pace is barely autobahn legal. Monster tune! The Ritual sees the groove slow somewhat and Scheepers is singing in a lower register, but the riff and groove are killer. Love the build up to King Of Madness, it really creates that anticipation and it’s the most melodic track so far. Maximum chugga riffage and double kicks all the way for Blood Sweat & Fear. That main riff is a sped up Priest one, see if you can make it out. This is a killer tune and my favourite. We close out Side 1 with Supernova, a huge sounding metallic ballad and Ralph’s voice is sounding awesome.

Hail To The Fear kicks Side 2 into gear and the mid-paced chugga groove is so infectious. The chugga’s keep on comin’ as Hounds Of Justice keeps your head bobbin. The Beast follows and the intro is pure Iron Maiden with the duel melodic guitars, and that chorus. Eye Of The Storm is next and the military sounding intro is so dramatic. The middle section complete with strings, mixes the metal with the classical so well. It’s last track time with Cannonball, and yes we are going out the way we came in: double kicks pounding and maximum chug. Yes, they employ every metal cliche in the patented metal handbook, but who cares when they produce albums of such high quality?

What’s the problem with Frontiers records’ quality control? This is another record that’s been exchanged three times because of the bad pressing. The album is great and very deserving of…

9/10 from The Grooveman.

KANE ROBERTS – s/t

June 27, 2023 /

Now, I’ll admit to not taking Mr. Roberts too seriously as the image of a pumped up heavy metal Rambo character didn’t really do it for me. I’m more of a substance over image kinda guy. If you ignore the cheese and concentrate on the tunes, then this is not a bad party rock record.

Rock Doll makes my point perfectly. A simple, hands in the air crowd pleaser. However, Women On The Edge Of Love is a whole different vibe and its melodic rock that Bryan Adams would be proud of. It’s a very catchy tune with a huge chorus! TripleX is up next and we are now in AOR territory. A very slick tune driven by the sing a long hook and chorus, plus you get to hear Kane play a very tasty solo. For your first album you get the opportunity to do a solo piece and you think it would be grade A, but Gorilla is anything but. Outlaw is a straight up 4-4 rocker. If This Is Heaven brings Side 1 to an end and again, the AOR vibes are high and the image is nothing like the product.

Out For Blood is the first track that sounds like you think it would. Double kicks all the way and the hook and chorus are so cheesy that you can’t help but smile. It’s favourite track time with Full Pull. This song stands out on its own as the arrangement and keys add a different vibe to the rest of the album, plus Kane plays the best solo on the album. The intro of Too Much could be a Pat Benatar or Foreigner song. It’s ballad time next with Wings Of Fire. The middle eight and solo are cool but aye, it’s just a ballad. The album closes out with A Strong Arm Needs A Stronger Heart and this is one song that’s crying out for a heavier sound and groove instead of the Bon Jovi-lite arrangement.

It’s an okay album, but you expect a lot more hidden behind that cover.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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