THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2023 (Page 9 of 11)

LAMB OF GOD – Omens

September 12, 2023 /

This is the band’s latest album, released in 2022.  As Pantera are no more, Lamb Of God are the natural successors to the groove metal throne.

The album opens up with Nevermore. A heavy groove and fat riffage, just what I like and this song has it by the ton. Vanishing starts as though they are being hunted at a killer pace with chugga’s a plenty. To The Grave is a slower pace but the aggression is still intense and the drumming of Art Cruz (especially the kicks) is very impressive. A seriously heavy intro to Ditch with drums and guitars ripping it up. Side 1 closes out with the title track Omens. A simple, recurring, heavy riff that repeats over and over with a mid paced groove.

Gomorrah gets Side 2 underway with a much slower groove and vibe, but still crushingly heavy. Ill Designs follows and is a very busy riff and groove. Lots going on here, but those kick drums are insane. Grayscale is up next and is my favourite tune. Great choppy riffage and a killer groove makes this boy happy. Denial Mechanism screams on in at a breakneck speed, almost sounding like a hard core tune. The album closes out with September Song. A brief acoustic intro before the crunch arrives.

I agree with most people that have reviewed this when it came out, it’s not their best effort but it’s still a solid record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GIANT – Time To Burn

September 12, 2023 /

Another band that suffered big time from the great grunge unpleasantness was Giant. They made two killer melodic rock albums (this being the second) and that was it. Can you believe that? Proof that the music biz was so messed up at that time.

Yes, I am aware there is a version of recording albums for Frontiers but without Dan (The Man) Huff, it’s not Giant I’m afraid. Dan is happy down in Nashville writing, recording, and producing and is doing just fine.

I prefer this album to the first one as this a near perfect melodic rock album. Superb songs, killer production, and some stunning guitar just perfectly in the right places. My favourite track is Chained. This tune has everything that makes the band so good. First of all, it’s a beast of a tune, the melody is off the charts, those harmony vocals are superb, and the guitar playing is just incredible. I mean, what more do you want? A close second is Side 2 opener Smoulder. I just love the groove and vibe to this one, and Sir Dan of Huff really rips on this one.

Superb production from Terry Thomas makes this album really come alive, and it’s one I play often. You should definitely have this album in your collection.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

KING DIAMOND – Fatal Portrait

September 11, 2023 /

This is the first album by King Diamond after the initial demise of Mercyful Fate. It was released in ’86. Strangely, for the kingly one this is not a concept album. Although Andy De LaRoque plays on the album, he doesn’t contribute to writing as he was a last minute replacement.

Just has some people struggle with the Cookie Monster vocals in a lot of today’s metal bands, a lot of people back in the day couldn’t quite get thier head around the falsetto squeals of King Billy. Personally, it doesn’t bother me that much as long as the music is good, and for the most part this album does indeed rock.

Favourite tune is The Portrait which is a reference to Dorian Gray, and the music is Prog metal before it was a thing and Mr. LaRoque riffs and plays like a beast. Other tunes of note are Charon which opens up Side 2 with some killer riffage and a pounding groove from Mickey Dee; and Lurking In The Dark where again, the axe playing of Mr. LaRoque is seriously good.

Of course, after this we all King D would go onto better things. Not a bad album though.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

VAMP – The Rich Don’t Rock

September 11, 2023 /

I think you can write on the back of a postage stamp what I know about these guys. They were formed in Germany in ’85 and released this (their only album) in ’89.

Their style of music is typical of all the hair bands around at the end of the eighties, and I was drawn in by the track Heartbreak, Heartache. A fun, good old, sing along party anthem with a great guitar sound and groove. I mean, somebody at Atlantic believed in them as they brought in the great Tony Platt to produce them.

Other than the aforementioned Heartbreak, Heartache there is Side 2 opener All Nite, which is my favourite track on the album. It’s an uptempo rocker that reminds me of prime time WASP, it even has a drum solo. They are definitely are at their best when they rock it up. Stand By Me is another tune that grabs the attention with a great intro and the Scorpions vibes are strong.

Is this a bad album? No! Is it a great album? No! It sits somewhere in between and lacks that one killer tune to set it alight.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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