THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: June 2024 (Page 2 of 6)

SAINT VITUS – Mournful Cries

June 23, 2024 /

A lot of bands have copied the Sabbath blueprint and carved out a career for themselves. Saint Vitus however took Iommi’s fuzzed out guitar sound that he used only on a couple of albums and forged a career of their own with this sound.

This is a reissue of the band’s ’88 album, and when you think of big stoner bands Saint Vitus don’t spring to mind even though they have been doing this sound since ’78. Comprising of only six tunes with two intros, it’s a relatively short piece of work but they have captured that early 70’s sound perfectly with a lo/fi production to add to the vibe. My favourite tune is the heavily Sabbath influenced final cut Looking Glass. This could seriously be a Sabbath outtake it’s that close.

I don’t normally buy things like this, but for $5 it was screaming “buy me.”

7/10 from The Grooveman.

SARAYA – When The Blackbird Sings

June 23, 2024 /

There seemed to be a whole bunch of female fronted bands at the end of the eighties as record companies tried to cash in. Saraya were in a different class. They had success with their first album and especially the song Love Has Taken It’s Toll, which had huge airplay on radio and MTV. However, this was their second and final album, and it was the cherry on the cake for me. Although Sandi was the face and name of the band, guitar man Tony Bruno was the driving force of the band as he penned all the tunes. Couple that with Sandi’s great voice and I’m sure the record company thought they could match the success of Pat Benatar.

Not a bad tune to be heard on these fine and silky grooves, there are quite a few vying for the spot of favourite track. Opener Queen Of Sheba is just a top top tune. A great ripping guitar riff coupled with a monster hook and groove, just sneaks it for me. However Hitchin’ A Ride with its huge hook and chorus, and the riff monster that is When You See Me Again run it close, as does the Van Halen tinged Lions Den. Tony Bruno is a very tasty player indeed and he adds some flare to nearly all the tunes, but my favourite solo is on the title track.

If you track down a copy of this masterpiece then I urge you to buy as you will not be disappointed. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SAXON – Hell Fire And Damnation

June 19, 2024 /

It’s safe to say that Saxon’s glory period sort of died out after Power And The Glory. Those first five albums are all bangers, I love them all. They had this ability to make kick ass metal albums but with the ear firmly on melody and song structure. You can sing along to all the songs on those albums.

After Power, things started to slowly go down as did their popularity. Now credit where it’s due, they have consistently kept pumping out albums where others did not and they kept their name in the spotlight culminating with this, their 24th studio album (not counting the cover albums), and it’s actually quite good. No, it doesn’t sound like Saxon of old but they do sound like a band with its finger firmly on the euro metal pulse.

Biff’s love of history is very evident on Saxon albums, but this one more than the others as every songs has an historical theme. Except Pirates Of The Airwaves where Biff is reminiscing on where he used to listen to new music when he was but a young boy. As usual with Andy Sneap, the production is on the money with plenty of crunch added to the clarity. My favourite tune is There’s Something In Roswell as it’s the one song that has that old school chugga riff and groove.

Not bad at all.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

LAAZ ROCKIT – No Stranger To Danger

June 19, 2024 /

This is Laaz Rockit’s second release and a follow up to the awesome City’s Gonna Burn. It’s not until track four and Side 1 close out tune, Backbraker where the band thrash it up like the first album. The first three tunes are just normal, straight ahead metal.

They are considered as one of the top six thrash bands to come out of the Bay Area, and looking at the cover where they are dressed in boutique leather gear you wonder if their egos were getting the better of them. Backbreaker is by far the best track on the record. The other songs are okay, but I was expecting so much more after that killer debut. The other track that is worthy of the first record is Wrecking Ball which ironically, closes out the record.

It’s weird how I still fell the same about this album after all this time.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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