THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: October 2024 (Page 3 of 7)

SKYBLOOD – S/T

October 23, 2024 /

Mats Levin is a vocalist who has appeared on seemingly squillions of records. I’m sure you have at least one album in your collection with a song where he lends his voice to (do a search and you will be amazed). But, this is the first time he is the head honcho on his own project playing guitar and keys, as well as that very distinctive voice.

Progressive metal encompasses a very wide breadth of musical styles. I would definitely put this album in the progressive metal box, but we do veer off into folk and norse melody, as well as the expected metallic crunch. This is not an album that immediately connects straight away, you have listen to this over and over because this is an album that keeps on giving with every listen.

Mats is not a squealer or a wailer, he has a very expressive voice and knows how to write a killer melody and hook. Highlights for me are The Not Forgotten and Wake Up To The Truth because they both have a great groove and killer vocals, but my favourite track is For Or Against. With a quirky marching style riff and groove, and Mats giving it the full beans on toast. This is the track that took the longest for me to latch onto and I just love it.

I do like to be challenged with an album and I found this record very rewarding, and I still do.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JIMMY BARNES – Freight Train Heart

October 21, 2024 /

Any peeps from Australia and New Zealand will be more than familiar with the voice of Jimmy Barnes, as Cold Chisel were heroes down under. Of his solo albums, this is his best effort and he is joined by an amazing bunch of muso’s to help him along. The record company gave Jimmy the big push with this one. Mike Stone produced most of the record however, Desmond Child did his thing on two tracks. Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Randy Jackson, Huey Lewis, and Joe Lynn Turner all appear, so no expense was spared.

I’m not sure if anybody has ever called Jimmy Barnes smooth, but this record is a very slick and smooth sounding record with a killer blues tone to the proceedings. There is not a bad moment on the whole record if we are being honest, but as usual it’s the more up tempo rockin’ tracks that do it for me and Lessons In Love is one of the best melodic rock tracks you will ever hear. Not only does Jimmy sing his ass off but Neal Schon lays down the perfect guitar accompaniment and has you wishing they had held back on the fade out.

So many good songs on one record should be a criminal offence, and why Barnes never reached mega status is a massive head scratcher for me. Every wannabe vocalist should listen to this to see how it’s done. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

CARR JAM – 21

October 21, 2024 /

So, what’s this all about then? This is the fourth instalment of a series of charitable releases in tribute to the late great Eric Carr of Kiss. Most of the musicians taking part are Swedish and the production is top drawer.

The EP is all covers of Kiss released tunes. In fact, the first track Eyes Of Love has Eric himself on vocals. Killer tune with a great swing to the groove and the hook and chorus are infectious. Love Her All I Can is next up, a Paul Stanley tune and it sounds killer. Can You Feel It rolls on in and it’s a tune written by Eric and Bruce Kulick that has Wig Wam’s Age Stan Nilsen on vocals. Another Ace tune gets an airing next with Snow Blind and Dregen on the box does a good Ace impression. The EP closes out with I’ve Had Enough (Into The Fire) with Mats Levin on vocals, and I would say this is my favourite cover of the bunch.

Records like this are so often train wreck material but this is rather good with a decent production.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

PROTEST THE HERO – Scurrilous

October 14, 2024 /

Pet peeve alert! You release a record and the artwork and the pressing are superb, but you put zero information on the cover, not even a track listing. This is a reissue of Protest the Hero’s 2011 album through Sheet Happens, who always do great pressings. They are a relatively local band for me so I have followed them since the beginning.

Technical progressive metal is an ever expanding genre and these guys do push boundaries. They lean to the heavier side of the machine but melody is never far away and the clean soaring vocal of Rody Walker is superb sitting just on top of all the technical noodling that rages underneath. It’s tough to pick a fave as there are so many different elements to all the songs, but Tapestry is just intense and I love the interplay between vocals and riifage. That staccato pattern is freakin’ awesome.

Killer record by such a cool band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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