THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: March 2024 (Page 4 of 7)

HARDLINE – Double Eclipse

March 18, 2024 /

The classic first album was released back in ’92 and this is the recent reissue on Real Gone Music. Of course, I have had the CD since forever ago and it’s cool to final have a copy on vinyl.

The band broke up after touring this album and the obvious reunion (sort of) happened in 2002. I think the brief for this project was to do something that had a harder edge but still having the melody and hooks, and for the most part they succeeded.

There are some great banging tunes lurking in these grooves and Rhythm In A Red Car is up there with the best. Schon is really riffing it up big time with a monster guitar sound and the beat just drives this beauty home. Killer track! Of course the huge power ballads can’t be held at bay and Change Of Heart should keep the aor brigade drooling.

It’s the uptempo rockers that really do it for me, Schon was born to play these type of songs. Life’s A Bitch, Dr. Love, and Takin’ Me Down all hit the spot. Hot Cherie I think did some business as a single and gave the band a push in the right direction, this is the only song where my brain thinks Journey.  Bad Taste is a close second for best tune as this baby drives along at a great pace with a super catchy hook and chorus, and I love the main riff and solo.

Overall, this is a very good record and is as welcome addition to my collection and maybe to yours too.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GARY MOORE – Wild Frontier

March 12, 2024 /

The ever chameleon-like Irish guitarist Gary Moore is trying a Celtic approach with this album. He is forever searching for that formula that gives him success and happiness. Of course, he was accused of bandwagon jumping as that whole Celtic sound was big at the time.

This album feels a bit like a bits and pieces record. I’m not sure if that’s due to the different producers on the album or if that’s what Gary was looking for. Over The Hills (which opens up the album) is Gary at his best. A killer melody and hook, and he rips in when appropriate. Wild Frontier has a hint of Thin Lizzy about it and is a very commercial sounding track, plus the solo is short but soooo good.

Take A Little Time is Gary doing power pop and him making sure to get that Celtic influenced line in there to keep the theme going. The Loner is just WOW! The opening reminds me of his Colosseum days and the rest of the song reminds me of what was yet to come. Killer playing! I could have done without the cover of Friday On My Mind as it does nothing for me. Yeah, the solo is cool but… meh!

Strangers In The Darkness reminds of something else but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s an okay ballad that he sings very well and the guitar tone is killer. Thunder Rising again revisits that Lizzy vibe, and is a nice uptempo rocker with a cool melody. The album closes out with Johnny Boy, a traditional Irish arrangement that brings a tear to the eye.

It’s cool to go back and listen to this record after all this time, Gary is missed greatly.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THRESHOLD – Dividing Lines

March 12, 2024 /

A band that seemingly have been around forever, banging on that door and not getting the credit their talents deserve. Threshold are just sailing under the radar, apart from the following they already have. They sure are persistent.

This is actually studio album number twelve for them, and their first record came out in ’93. The Prog metal genre is a very crowded space now and perhaps it’s time that Threshold step up to the big leagues. I don’t see why not, as this is a very good album indeed. It mixes very melodic passages with some great heavy guitar riffage and lots of Proggy moments to keep the Prog mafia happy.

There are so many great tracks here I will just highlight the ones that really shake my tree. Hall Of Echoes is such a huge track. Awesome fat guitar sound, and the vocal and melodies by Glynn Morgan are superb. Let It Burn with a great intricate opening riff and a very DT guitar crunch, plus Karl Groom’s solo is beautiful. The barn burner that is The Domino Effect, the big centrepiece song of the record. I love long tracks that weave their way through your brain that you don’t want to end.

My favourite track is Complex. A relatively short song (5:50 minutes) but packs a mean punch with fat riffage and bundles of harmony. The album close out track Defence Condition is another long one, but what a way to close out a record. Those keys just sailing over the top of that fat riff is wonderful.

The band have a great knack for coming up with great melody lines that just stick in your brain. Not many prog metal bands do that and I think that’s what sets Threshold apart from the rest.

A great record that deserves your attention.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

WRATHCHILD – Stakk Attakk

March 12, 2024 /

Straight from the bargain cosmetics counter at Boots comes Wratchild’s initial attempt to bring glam to the masses. It’s hard to believe that this came out in ’84 as I thought it was a lot later. If you take the make up and the clothes away you basically have a second generation NWOBHM band.

The production isn’t great and that was the same for a lot of the Heavy Metal Records releases, but that doesn’t dampen the band’s enthusiasm, because in their minds they are playing at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip. It’s just a fun record that puts a smile on your face. There are a couple of tracks that I really like. The opener Stakk Attakk is everything that these guys are all about, a great uptempo rocker with a buzz saw guitar and a super catchy hook and chorus. Also, my personal favourite,Tonite. With a Gary Glitter-style chorus, handclaps, and all the glam you could want.

Imagine them doing this in a pub with all the flashbombs and glitter. That’s exactly what they did; completely barking mad.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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