THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: May 2024 (Page 5 of 6)

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.

LA CHINGA – Beyond The Sky

May 9, 2024 /

Hailing from Vancouver, this BC trio of noise makers were new to me until recently when Rob at Music Madhouse Records played me a couple of tunes and I was hooked. They defo have a retro in vibe and groove but with a lot more balls. Think Led Zeppelin mixed with early Motorhead and a sprinkling of The Black Crowesmliving in an RV in deepest Louisiana.

This is the band’s third album that came out in 2018. Emphasis is on killer rockin’ tunes with a ripping groove and stacks of hooks and melody. Mama Boogie is the one that grooves the hardest. A super cool riff that swings just right and a great  trippy solo from Ben Yardley on guitar. Yup, it’s my favourite track.

However, there is so much more to enjoy about this album. Black River takes you right back to what was great about 70’s rock bands. Cool riff and a simple catchy chorus that sticks in your head. Feel It In My Bones is pure old school sleazy Aerosmith, and Warlords feels like Lemmy era Hawkwind.

If retro is your thing, then check these guys out.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

JETBOY – Feel The Shake

May 9, 2024 /

Same title as the album that broke them, but this is NOT that album. There are two versions of Feel The Shake, an ’87 one and another from 2007. The rest  are a collection of waifs and strays that haven’t been on vinyl before.

Side 1 has a demo vibe and feel about it, and is quite raw. I find the punky sleaze vibe quite endearing and Don’t You Mess Up My Hair shows that the band has a fun sense of humour. The best song on the album is a Bullfrog Pond.

The production has gone up another notch as we go over to Side 2 and sounds huge compared to all of the tracks on Side 1, and that Aerosmith vibe suits them.

These Deadline bits and pieces albums are ok for completists, but I’m not sure any new fans will be attracted.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

ALIAS – S/T

May 9, 2024 /

Alias are a Canadian AOR supergroup, would you believe. There are members of Sheriff and Heart, so I’ll give them that. All joking aside, it’s a very good album that is high on big hooks and has loads of melody but was released at the moment of doom, so I guess they were destined for failure.

They did have a number one single in Canada and number two in the US with More Than Words Can Say, and Waiting For Love didn’t do to bad either. If you’ve read a lot of my ramblings you will know I’m not too partial to the ballad and my brain locks in to the the rockier tracks and Say What You Wanna Say is that track in this record. It’s a great uptempo rocker with a killer hook and chorus and Freddy Curci has a great set of pipes.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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