THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: September 19, 2024

ERIC STEEL – S/T

September 19, 2024 /

Just as there was a rush to sign metal bands when NWOBHM started to break, there was also the same rush in the US where labels were signing bands without doing their homework because metal was the in thing. Admittedly, this is a little rough around the edges compared to their excellent second album, Infectious, but it still has its moments.

This feels very late 70’s instead of ’84 when it was recorded and it sounds like a raw version of Kiss mixed with The Boyz. The production isn’t great and the drums sound awful, but there are a couple of tracks that shine. Hypnotized with its punk riffing and groove is a cool track that steals a little from the MC5. My fave track is the proto metal vibe of High Roller. Kick ass heavy rock n’ roll and Bruce Hausfeld does have a great voice that reminds a bit of Dave Meniketti.

If your looking for an Eric Steel album then I would definitely go for Infectious over this.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

TYKETTO – Don’t Come Easy

September 19, 2024 /

Danny Vaughan first came to most people’s attention when he replaced Fin as the vocalist in Waysted and recorded their best album, Save Your Prayers. After that all went belly up, Danny put together Tyketto and this is their debut album that was released in ’91.

It is more aor sounding than Waysted and aimed at the radio, they had success with the single Forever Young but the musical landscape had shifted greatly and they struggled with sales. This album is all about Mr. Vaughan and the hooks and melodies of the songs. Forever Young is by far the stand out song and shows what a great songwriter he is.

My fave track however, is Lay Your Body Down. This is not your straight four to the floor rocker, as there is a nice hint of funk with some nice key changes and the rest of the band show just how good they are, and those almost gospel singalongs are very cool. They are at their best when they heavy it up a bit like Walk On Fire, and I would have liked more in that direction on the album.

Still, that doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s a very strong album and worthy of your attention.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MACHINE HEAD – The Blackening

September 19, 2024 /

I was a massive fan of Burn My Eyes, it was such a stellar first album that I think they struggled for a while after, trying to find a voice because they seemed to float around in the ether. That is until Through The Ashes Of Empires, which was the precursor to this, their FINEST hour.

There are not many bands that six albums into their career release a masterpiece such as this. Make no bones about it, this a brutally heavy record and yet it is chock full of groove and loaded in dynamics.

Clenching The Fists Of Dissent is just monumentally heavy and yet grooves all the way to the fade out, and one of my fave metal tunes ever. Beautiful Mourning riffs its ass off all across your face and Rob Flynn sounds angry as though someone stole his cheetos. Aesthetics Of Hate has elements of old school thrash welded to the groove so you can see its DNA and the roots to the family tree of its birth. Now I Lay There Down is a slower paced track but that heavy low end groove is just so freakin’ cool, and I love the light and shade to this one.

Epic intro to Slanderous that will have you raging in your own invisible pit. The middle eight is doom central and evil as hell. A close second for fave track was Halo. I love the build at the intro and you can feel the explosion of heavy riffs and grooves that are about to come. Wolves has one of the busiest main riffs, and grooves like a beast. The whole shebang comes to a close with the fitting A Farewell To Arms. A very slow eerie build until the heavy chugga crunch descends onto your ears and that middle heavy riffing piece is just epic.

This is one of those albums where everything just comes together perfectly to create something special. I give you a near perfect metal album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

VALENTINE – S/T

September 19, 2024 /

Although the band had been around since 1980, it wasn’t until 1990 that Valentine got an opportunity to record this classic AOR monster. Shortly after this release, they changed their name to Open Skyz. Main man Hugo was actually in the frame to replace Steve Perry in Journey, and that should give you a clue to the direction this record takes.

If Journey and Def Leppard were put in a blender then Valentine would pop out. Other than the obvious focal point of Hugo, Adam Holland is an absolute revelation on guitar and he sprinkles just the right amount of awesome on every track. Killer player! Yep, there are ballads and I can get over that when the songs are this good.

Highlights (and there are a lot) include opener Runnin’ On Luck Again. This track is the perfect way to open an album with the right amount of crunch and a killer hook and chorus. No Way keeps that vibe a rollin’. And my favourite track, Too Much Is Never Enough with a killer metal main riff, and I guarantee you will be singing that chorus. Where Are You Know, which opens Side 2 is a big rock anthem with the obligatory massive hook and chorus and the pomp of We Run.

The icing on the cake of this record is the superb production by Neil Kernon who brings out the best in the band. If they came a few years earlier, they would have been huge.I know I say that all the time, but great records like this shouldn’t have just been ignored because of the time they were released.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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