THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 155 of 492)

FAITH OR FEAR – Punishment Area

July 27, 2023 /

One of the lesser known bands from the thrash explosion. These guys hail from New Jersey and they sound like old school an Anthrax/Megadeth hybrid with more of a hardcore edge.

This is their first album, originally released on Combat in the US, this is a UK version on Under One Flag. They have all the moves and chord progressions that were stock back in the day and I really love the naivety and energy they throw into every song, you forget this is nearly forty years old. It’s hard to pick a favourite as I love all of them but I’m going for C.D.S. Killer, an old school headbangin’ instep riffage.

It’s really weird how a band gets chosen out of a bunch of equally talented bands with similar sounds and grooves. If I was an A&R guy I would have picked these guys hands down.

A great fun album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SNARKY PUPPY – We Like It Here

July 26, 2023 /

Hopefully most of you will have at least heard of this jazz fusion collective. They are one of the best live experiences on the planet. I first heard this through a DVD I purchased and was so blown away that I just had to have a vinyl copy of it.

Believe it or not, this is a live album that was recorded and filmed in Holland. A very unique set up as the audience was mostly in the middle and the band around the edge in what was a quite a small space, considering how many musicians there were. I think there are 20 musicians so you get an idea how cramped it was.

I will give special mention to two of them however, Larnell Lewis on drums who I have to say is other worldly as he keeps the beat and groove going when every one around him is improvising, plus his solo in What About Me is absolutely amazing. Also a mention to Cory Henry on keys whose solo in Lingus is incredible and I’m not sure I have seen anyone improv as awesome as this anywhere.

In short, I implore all of you to beg, borrow, or steal a copy either on vinyl or the DVD/CD package as you will NOT be disappointed. Killer stuff!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

LILLIAN AXE – Sad Day On Planet Earth

July 26, 2023 /

This is album number seven for the band and it was released back in 2009, twenty one years after their debut. They have kept banging away through a vastly changing musical landscape and indeed released their latest just album last year. I know the metal sound spreads far and wide and it’s very hard to lay down your own individual footprint, but Lillian Axe are one of the bands that have managed to do just that.

This is an album you won’t be able to digest in one sitting, concept albums rarely are, you have to return again and again for it to sink in. Tracks that really do it for me are Jesus Wept, the title track, Down Below The Ocean, and my favourite Blood Raining Down On Her Wings. Not the most metal track in the album but one that emphasizes the band’s great sense of melody.

Cool record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ZED YAGO – Pilgrimage

July 25, 2023 /

A band that didn’t do a whole bunch other than the two albums they recorded, this is album two.

A very confusing opening, I’m not sure if I’m listening to Queen with the overblown intro. When things settle down however, a more medieval vibe takes over mixed with a more classic rock groove. Vocalist Jutta has a great set of pipes and I’m sure she has had some sort of operatic training. The music is more slow and dramatic than your usual metal fare ,with big chords and pounding beats. However, when they do speed it up a notch the band seem to come into their own and my favourite track Pioneer On The Storm is a perfect example. A nice riff and a four four groove does the trick. The only other song that grabs me is Achiles Heel, where again they groove it up a notch and the hook and chorus are quite radio friendly.

I can see why they called it quits after this as they have a somewhat niche sound.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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