THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: July 18, 2023

BABYLON A.D – American Blitzkrieg

July 18, 2023 /

This is album number three for these Southern California rockers, released nearly ten years after their previous effort. The musical landscape had changed somewhat in the years in between, and this album has a lot more of a raw, sleazier sound reflecting the time.

The title track comes bounding in with a great groove and riff, and the inclusion of the verse by War is genius. Magic Mary is textbook LA sleaze. A great riff and groove and that Doors influence in the middle eight is cool. I Wanna Live follows and has a dirty groove and riff with a slight funk undertone. Sinking In The Sand closes out Side 1 and is my favourite track on the album. Superb riff with a great four to floor groove, and that hook and chorus are huge.

The Sky’s Falling kicks off Side 2 and it’s power ballad time. Emphasis on the power, and I love the guitar sound. The Unreal is the band fitting in to the sounds around them. A modern sounding raw groove and a cool simple chugga riff. Normal service is resumed with One Way Ride, a return to that dirty sleazy sound that they do so well. The Glyde is up next and it’s more of the same. A simple sleazy dirty riff and I love the hook and chorus. The album closes out with Superstar, a track that reminds me of Aerosmith at their most dirty.

Not a bad comeback album at all.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SAMSON – Head On

July 18, 2023 /

Album number two for these NWOBHM stalwarts, and the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals. He was credited on the Survivors album, but he did not appear on the original album. Obviously, with hindsight this record is not heavy metal but definitely a kick ass hard rock album, and the best of their early efforts. If fading memory serves me right, the track Thunderburst is a version of Maiden’s The Ides Of March which was written while drummer Thunderstick was briefly in their ranks.

The album kicks off with Hard Times,  a great uptempo blues rock groover with Paul Samson’s heavy blues riffs driving it along. Take It Like A Man follows and is my favourite track on the album. Another great Samson riff and groove with a great guitar sound. Vice Versa is next up and was released as a single. A great choice as the vibe and groove are a lot more radio friendly, that is until the middle section where things get a lot more frenetic. Manwatcher has a distinct seventies heavy rock riff and groove with just a hint of punk thrown in. Too Close To Rock closes out Side 1 and that has to be one of Paul’s heaviest riffs at the intro.

The previously mentioned Thunderburst opens up Side 2 and I think you can tell the obvious similarities. Hammerhead follows and that heavy 70’s blues groove drives this one, although Mr. Stick’s busy drumming is telling you different. Hunted takes the tempo and groove down a notch or two and I would say this is the weakest song on the album. Take Me To Your Leader is by far the fastest song on the album, although the feel is more punk than metal. The album closes out with Walking Out On You, a slow monster track that treads very close to ballad territory but that big guitar sound tells you otherwise.

I like this album as I think it’s their most consistent.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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