THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: December 1, 2024 (Page 1 of 2)

ORPHANS OF THE ASH – Elipsis

December 1, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Now, I’ve been a big fan of Zal Cleminson since I was a kid at school when he was part of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. So, to fast forward over fifty years later and see that Zal is still putting out relevant angry modern rock n’ roll, it makes my heart sing.

What we have here boys and girls is a duo. Both Zal and his partner in crime Billy McGonagle are cranking heavy guitar tones and Zal handles all vocals. The drums are just programmed which is not my favourite thing, but it doesn’t distract too much from the noise produced. The overriding thing you take away from listening to this album is LOUD and distorted guitars. Some great heavy sounding crunch and I would definitely say this is as angry and mean as Zal has ever sounded.

This ain’t no classic rock romp in the park, this a modern, heavy, and dark sounding album. There are a couple of tunes here that really shake my tree, one is Blind Machine, I love the guitar and groove. My favourite track of the bunch is Poison Wood. Huge sounding guitar tone, and that riff is superb, alongside very dark lyrics.

I love the album and I just wish the drums had been real, it’s the one down point. Keep cramming it Zal!!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HELLOWEEN – Walls Of Jericho

December 1, 2024 / / 0 Comments

So this is ground zero for Helloween, one of the most influential euro metal bands. If you believe what nonsense “Kerrapp” magazine were writing about the band at the time, they were nothing more than second rate Iron Maiden copyists. After this album was released, power metal as a genre really grew and developed into the force it is today.

Only a 4 piece at this point, with Karl Hansen doing vocals and guitar along with Michael Weikath giving that twin guitar assault. It’s all very raw, gung ho, and 100 mph compared to the ultra polished machine they are today, but it’s cool to go back and listen to how it all started. Ironically, it’s the slower Metallica-esque chugga fest of Gorgar that is my favourite song.

A fun look back into metal nostalgia.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

TRIXTER – New Audio Machine

December 1, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Coming right at the tail end of all things melodic, just before the dark and gloom of grunge, descended Trixter. They made a loud splash with a killer first album and a couple of big radio friendly singles in One In A Million and Give It To Me Good. They have continued sporadically releasing new music and playing shows. This vinyl album was released on CD in 2012 but this version came out in 2022.  

The band revolves around the amazing talents of guitarist/vocalist Steve Brown and bassist/vocalist PJ Farley. The one thing about this record is that it is as though the dark days of gloom never happened and this could have been a follow up to their first album, it’s just a great fun positive vibe record. They say class always shines through and this record oozes it from every pore. So many great songs like Drag Me Down, Dirty Love, Ride, Physical Attraction, Save Your Soul, and my personal fave, Machine.

These guys are just great songwriters. When they perform live, they give it everything, and Steve Brown is one hell of a player. Great album!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GALACTIC COWBOYS – Machine Fish

December 1, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Another band that existed in the strange kind of town, just like KingsX and Atomic Opera, are Galactic Cowboys. In fact, they were very close to the mighty X with members guesting on each other’s projects and indeed, basing themselves in the same town.

After being on a major label for their first two albums, they were dropped by Geffen and no one at the time seemed to take much notice of the demos they had for this, their third album. Along came Brian Slagel from Metal Blade, who gave the band a lifeline and signed them on the strength of the demos and let them make the album they wanted to.

At times, this record is very angry and the band were obviously pissed off at the misfortune at the hands of the majors, so all their frustrations came out in the songs. There are still elements of those great vocal melodies and harmonies, but mixed with the heavy guitar and low end groove, is one heavy record indeed. Red Sun is the one track that really sets me alight. Very heavy riffing throughout and the vocal harmonies are so good. They actually do sound just like a Seattle band in places, which is ironic because that’s why Geffen dropped them.

Good album from a band flying against the groove.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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