THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 144 of 492)

LOUDNESS – Lightning Strikes

September 27, 2023 /

This is album number six for Japan’s loudest musical export, and for some reason it was remixed and renamed for the North American market. The album’s original title was Shadows Of War. I think the remix was done by producer Max Norman. I have not heard the original, but end result has a very huge American radio-friendly sound.

Opener Let It Go has a huge sound with a very catchy chorus, and thankfully plenty of Akira on the fretboard. Dark Desire has a Dokken groove and feel, as does a lot of the album. My favourite tune of the rockin’ side is 1000 Eyes, especially with the Randy-style riffing from Akira. I’m glad to report that there are still some full on metal assaults with tracks like  Face To Face and my favourite of the metal side is Black Star Oblivion. I’m always a sucker for a heavier tune with a nice drum groove and lots of guitar.

Was the record company trying to sanitize the band for the US market? Probably, and that’s why Dissolution and Thunder In The East are my favourite albums.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACK SABBATH – Heaven And Hell

September 26, 2023 /

It’s interesting listening to opinions of this album. Some people think it’s the best album Sabbath put out, others think it should have been called something else as the sound changed so much and was not Sabbath-like at all. Well, for sure Ronnie was the band’s saviour as after Ozzie had left and the tour leading up to that, the band were a mess. As for me… I just think it’s one hell of a piece of music and a statement to Ozzie and Sharon.

One of the best openings you will hear to a record with Neon Nights. Killer riff from Tony and that pounding groove from Geezer and Bill is awesome. The cherry on the top is Ronnie with those fantasy lyrics he was so good at. This is a 2021 remaster I am playing and it sounds really good and Geezer’s bass is really cutting through in the mix. It’s really hard to get past Neon Nights as a favourite tune but I really like Heaven And Hell as that was old school Sabbath riifage with Ronnie weaving his magic over the top, and basically a big FU to all the fans that said it would not work. There is a second disc with this reissue that contains a couple of B sides and five tracks form a live gig in the USA in 1980, which are pretty stellar.

Yeah, it’s a classic but not perfect.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – Stomp 442

September 26, 2023 /

Album number seven for one of thrash metal’s best bands. This is their second album with John Bush on vocals, and it was the first album without Dan Spitz. Also, they left/dropped the label after this claiming they gave them no support as the sales weren’t great. Maybe a lot of fans preferred the Joey fronted version?

This may be my favourite Bush era album as the groove that the “Frax” put into most of their early tunes was back on this record. Yep, it sounds raw but that’s what this version was all about. Random Acts Of Senseless Violence is a monster opening tune putting those cards clearly on the table. Couple that with the single Fueled and that’s one hell of an opening.

My favourite track is Riding Shotgun. Killer opening from Paul Crook on guitar who wasn’t credited on the cover, and that bass groove is awesome. Scott Ian was still obsessed about the whole hardcore thing and the tracks Nothing and American Pompeii reflect that, somewhat. It’s amazing that with all the anger and rage in the music on this album that a track as fragile as Bare can be on the same album.

Decent enough record.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM POLICE – Messing With The Blues

September 25, 2023 /

I’m not sure many people outside of Norway have heard of this band, which is such a shame as this is a very good record. You may have heard of the guitar player however, who is none other than Trond Holter who plays with the mighty Wig Wam and Baby Snakes, amongst others.

This album came out in ’91 and was the band’s second release, when the US had basically given up on melodic rock and melody in general. Luckily Scandinavia had not!

Look For A Lover opens up the album and man we are on a roll straight away, great groove and riff and plenty of Trond. Bad Bad Bad is next and it’s my favourite song. Such a killer tune with a massive hook and chorus, and boy does this tune swing. It’s ballad time next with Its Only Love. Great solo! Communication follows and the Extreme-style funk is on the menu. Great riff and groove, and they sure know to to write a tune. The hook and chorus are huge. Great intro to Don’t Let Go, and you will be singing the chorus for days. Brand New Car closes out Side 1 with some dirty blues.

Down On Your Luck kicks off Side 2 with some yeehaw slide geetar and man what a great hook and chorus. Superb! Some sleazy barroom jazz next with So Damned Lonely. Such a different groove but it works so well. In The Monkey Hour has that Extreme groove and vibe again. The main verse is sooo cool in this one. Woke Up This Morning is sure living up to the title of the album. Harmonica intro before the heavy blues riff kicks in. We close out the album with No More Lies, an acoustic country blues tune maybe not be the best way to close out a killer melodic rock record.

Great band and this (a part from the last track) is a great follow up to their first album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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