THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: February 24, 2025

GUS G – I Am The Fire

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

This is Gus’s first solo album, released back in 2014. It’s not a total shred fest as you may think, but it is a really good melodic rock record. Yup, there are a couple of instrumental tracks like Vengeance and Terrified, which are both killer by the way, but strangely for me it’s the songs with vocals that I think are the strongest.

Opener My Will Be Done with Mats Leven on vocals is my favourite song on the record. It’s just a kick ass song all around with a killer hook and chorus. Of course, there are lots of great solos as you would expect from an awesome player like Gus, but I am blown away by how good a songwriter he is.

The only really heavy song on the record is the second instrumental song, Terrified with many notes flying through the speakers and matching double kicks a plenty. I’m a big fan of Mats Leven and he sings on four of the tracks here. I also love Jeff Scott Soto and he gets to add his voice to the song Summer Days. The one song I don’t care for too much is I Am The Fire, but on the whole a good record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DOMAIN – Crack In The Wall

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

They were originally called Kingdom (which they released their first album under) then they changed their name to Domain to avoid confusion with Kingdom Come.

This is the second album as Domain and what a fine hefty chunk of melodic metal it is. After this album, they would disappear for 10 years and resurface with more of a speed/power metal vibe. However, this is the band’s best effort.

Opening track Five Way Switch (favourite song) is a beast of a tune, with a killer riff and groove that will have you fist pumping the air. Hard Road To Midnight is a kick ass commercial melodic metal gem, very reminiscent of Judas Priest at their most radio friendly.

The title track slows the groove down to an anthemic hands in the air sing along rocker. They even get to sound like their German compatriots the Scorpions on Hold On Tomorrow. There are a couple of stinkers that sound as though they were scraping the barrel to fill up the space, but overall it’s a very enjoyable record.  

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SEBASTIAN BACH – Child Within The Man

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

When I first put this on the deck of doom I was surprised how much it sounded sonically like Mammoth WVH. But that’s because they both have the same production by Elvis Baskette.

It’s been 10 years since Mr. Bach’s last release, and he has taken on all what’s trendy in today’s rock n’ roll universe. I have read some very average reviews about this record and I have to say, I’m not sure why. Yup, it’s not Skid Row and why would it be? But it’s one hell of a rockin’ record.

The three tracks on Side1: Everybody Bleeds, Freedom, and Hold On To The Dream are all absolute monster tunes, up there with his best. Welcome back Sebastian Bach!

In fact, this carries on throughout the album. What Do I Got To Lose has a great melody and hook, and FU is power pop at its best with a nice cameo from Steve Stevens. I was not expecting the album to be this good and it’s still on rotation in my frequent play records.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

TUFF LUCK – S/T

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Yet another rare one off hair band that put out this beauty in ’87. Recorded in Fort Lauderdale down Florida way, this matches anything that was coming out of Sunset Strip at this time. It’s not too bad for a self-produced effort, I love that raw in your face sound.

As with a lot of these one off records, it lacks the touch of a producer to give it that nudge towards radio, but I love this album it the way it is. They flirt with Van Halen-esque rock n’ roll like in the with opener Tonight! Tonight (which is my favourite tune). They also play with the out and out sleeze/glam like on Up And Down.

As I have mentioned many times before, this type of music needs a hot shot guitar player to make it fly and Dave Scott is guilty as charged here. A total beast of a player that lifts every song.

You can still pick up a copy, there a few still lying around.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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