THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: May 13, 2024

WITNESS – S/T

May 13, 2024 /

These guys are a bit of an oddity. They were signed by Arista under their original name of Native, but soon after signing they changed their name to Witness. Damon Johnson of Black Star Riders was the guitar player in the band, he doesn’t play a note on the album neither does his guitar partner Eddie Usher. In fact, a lot of the US melodic rock royalty played and wrote a lot of the album. Neal Schon, Brad Gillis  to name but two. Obviously the label loved the voice of vocalist Debbie Davis and wanted to launch the band big time. Unfortunately, the band split after the release of the album but they left behind one of the great unheard melodic rock releases of the period.

Rammed full of radio friendly tunes I would recommend this banger to any lovers of melodic rock/AOR. Many great tunes to choose from here but my two favourites are firstly opener Show Me What You Got which is one hell of a way to open an album, it has a big riff, killer groove, and a hook and chorus to die for. Second, Am I Wrong with another great riff and superb melody.

It’s fun to play spot the guitarist and who plays on what. Back To You could have been on any Journey album and Neal Schon’s guitar style is unmistakable.  Great album. Go check it out.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VICTORY – You Bought It You Name It

May 13, 2024 /

Victory should have been a lot bigger than they were. I know they came at the tail end of of the classic period, in fact this album came out in ’92, but they had all the elements to take it further.

This album is a total banger. I mean, what better opening do you need than Rebel Ready? It has a razor sharp riff that rips from the speakers, a pounding double kick groove that you feel in the chest, and a killer hook and chorus – what more do you want! A great tune! Rock-O-Matic follows with a heavy Extreme vibe and a funk overtone. Very cool tune! As Time Goes Passing By follows and basically it’s the blues given the heavy treatment with HUGE sounding guitars. Big shout out here to vocalist Fernando Garcia who really can belt out a tune. Under The Sun blows on in with an industrial sounding drum and a riff that prime period Anthrax would be proud with an epic groove. Man On The Run closes out Side 1 and it’s balls time. How to kill the mood or what!

Normal service is resumed with Side 2 opener Shotgun Wedding, a straight up four to the floor rocker. No Way Tonight follows and we are in AC/DC sing a long territory. God Of Sound is all about the vocal and that huge hook and chorus. Cool tune! Love Is Tuff is driven along with a one note pounding bass line and a very commercial sounding vibe with matching massive hook and chorus (Extreme pop into my head again). The album closes out with Fool and yes, we are going out with a bang. This song is a superb up tempo monster with a ripping riff and a fitting end to a great record. A killer production from Tommy Newton adds to the quality tunes.

Why the ballad?

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

HEIR APPARENT – One Small Voice

May 13, 2024 /

Queensryche had quite an impact on the world of progressive music, especially around their home territory. Heir Apparent are also from the Seattle area and are very much influenced by the “Ryche”. Vocalist Steve Benito is a ringer for Geoff Tate, both in range and delivery, and musically the band sound like the Warning era.

This album was originally released on Metal Blade in ’89, although I do believe a reissue appeared a few years ago. Other than the total cheese ballad Alone Again and the cringe worthy cover of The Sound Of Silence, this is not a bad effort and it’s a mystery as to why they disappeared after this album.

They certainly know how to deliver songs in a very dramatic and epic sounding way. Cacophony Of Anger has a very dramatic intro before settling down to a Maiden-style gallop. My favourite however is the more snappy and to the point Young Forever. It’s a short riff heavy rocker that they should have done more of.

If you like a sense of the dramatic in your Prog metal listening then you should seek this one out.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KROKUS – Headhunter

May 13, 2024 /

After Metal Rendezvous, this is my next favourite Krokus album. Originally released back in ’83, it was the band’s seventh release, this is the 40th anniversary reissue on MOV.

This was the album that broke them in the US. It contains classics like Screaming In The Night, Eat The Rich, and Stayed Awake All Night. Screaming is a great tune and worthy of all the praise that comes its way, although I do love the opening double kick blast of the title track Headhunter. I have seen some reviews calling them AC/DC lite, which does not do the band justice. Sure, Eat The Rich has that DC groove but it’s a killer tune that gets the foot a stomping and there are way more frills and subtleties to Krokus’ music.

I have mentioned before how record companies load up the first side with killer tunes and this one is a prime example where everyone is a banger, with Ready To Burn and the ripping Night Wolf making up the side. After EVH’s Eruption appeared in ’78 it became fashionable for all bands to let their lead guitarists a have a little spot of their own on records, and Fernando Von Arb had his piece White Din on this one.

Krokus released some good music and you can’t go wrong with Headhunter.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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