THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2024 (Page 5 of 7)

PLINI – Handmade Cities

January 11, 2024 /

This is the debut album from the (seemingly) very prolific Plini, released back in 2016. In fact, he has only released two full length albums, most of his physical releases are EPs.

If you are a lover of instrumental progressive guitar music then this is a must. It’s full of amazing playing, killer grooves, and a great production. This is a killer record from needle drop to fade out.

The title track is one big awesome fest right from the get go. Stunning playing without it being a widdle fest, matched with a great groove and beat. My favourite track however is Inhale. There is so much going on here, with a groove that chops and changes from really cool jazz vibes to prog metal low end rumble. The whole album is just a treat for the ears.

There is definitely something in the water (or beer) in Australia, as there is so much amazing music there right now. More please!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

BLUE BLOOD – Universal Language

January 9, 2024 /

For those of you who have never heard of these guys before, they come from London, England and this is their second album released back in ’91. Melodic hard rock with a hint of LA sleaze is the groove that they play.

I like this record. The production is big which this music deserves to make it pop. Universal Language opens up the album with a great groove and that hook and chorus is cool, but it’s the guitar that catches your attention with axeman Mark Sutcliffe laying some tasty notes on those grooves. Cruel World follows and there is a slight funky vibe to the groove, but it’s another cool tune. The funk/sleaze groove comes in full on with She Shakes Me Up, and the middle section is really good. Say A Prayer is a Bon Jovi-style power ballad. Side one closes out with New Toy, a full on glam slam anthem.

Side 2 kicks off with Hit The Deck, a slow riff heavy sleaze fest that speeds up in all the right places. Homebound Train has a super cool slow and sleazy groove with a nice hook and chorus. Share The Night is a rather syrupy ballad. Cool intro to Sun Worshipper, and I think this is my favourite tune. It’s got a great feel good vibe that befits the title. The album closes out with What’s Your Pleasure, which has a riff that sounds a bit like the Cult until the drums blow that away with a great uptempo groove.

A decent enough record by a band that passed a lot of people by.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

Maltese Falcon – Metal Rush

January 9, 2024 /

Named after the Bogart movie of the same name, this little piece of metal history first saw the light of day back in ’84 but by ’86 it was all but a memory. There haven’t been too many Danish metal bands that have made it. Other than Merciful Fate/King Diamond, Pretty Maids, and maybe Volbeat, I can’t think of many more. This album is okay, but it was never gonna conquer the world.  

It’s pretty standard heavy metal for the time and sarcastically I’m going for Mammas In Town as my favourite track as it possesses yet another version of THAT riff.  Heavy N’ Loud is a close second with a hybrid Ozzy/Metallica mash up.

It’s amazing how far metal has come since these innocent pioneering days and although it’s not the greatest metal album in the world it’s still a fun listen.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

ELEGY – Manifestation Of Fear

January 9, 2024 /

Elegy were formed in Holland in ’86 and this is their sixth album. It was released back in ’98 and they seemed to call it a day after 2002’s Principle Of Pain, but I heard a little whisper that they are getting back together to record a new album.

Although a Dutch band, they have had British singer Ian Parry on vocals since ’96. The Prog/power metal genre is so overcrowded with bands vying for your attention that if you don’t have that magic ingredient you will disappear as soon as you surface. Elegy managed to survive by releasing classy albums and touring the euro circuit while the rest of the world was only aware of them in small pockets.

This is a double vinyl reissue on Night Of The Vinyl Dead and it’s a really nice pressing, as most of theirs are. Parry’s vocals do have a hint of the Dio’s at times, although in a slightly higher register. That, coupled with Henk Van der Laars’ ripping leads and huge riffage make this a great record. Of the twelve tracks on offer here my highlights are the fat riffage of Savage Grace, the epic Master Of Deception, and the totally awesome title track (and my personal fave) Metamorphosis.

A huge chunk of DT-style riffing always goes down well with me. I hope they get it together to put out another record but if not, they have left behind a fine body of work.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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