THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 180 of 492)

TREAT – Dreamhunter

May 6, 2023 /

This is album number three from one of Sweden’s finest exponents of aor/melodic rock and the first to feature Jamie Borger on drums, who later went on to drum with Talisman (one of Sweden’s best ever hard rock bands) and also Jeff Scott Soto. The production is stellar, capturing that big eighties rock sound perfectly.

Soul Survivor opens up the album in fine anthemic style. Big hook and matching monster chorus. That blueprint slides on into You’re The One I Want, but more. Massive hook and a chorus that just gets stuck in your head. Great tune and my favourite! Take Me On Your Wings takes the listener into super slick aor territory, plus big bonus points for a killer melodic solo. Next up is Best Of Me and it’s big ballad time. Side 1 closes out with Dancing On The Edge, a kick ass uptempo rocker. Great riff and man do they know how to write a catchy hook and chorus.

Over to Side 2 and Outlaw. Superb harmony guitars at the intro, although the song reminds me of Pat Benatar. World Of Promises follows and they seem to like the big intro as nearly every song has one. The main verse is a nice little gallop and then it’s big hook and chorus time. I wonder if they go to school for this in Sweden?One Way To Glory has a big keyboard intro that feels a bit like ABBA but that disappears as soon as the band kick in, and yet another infectious sing-a-long anthem. Save Yourself starts with a huge Deep Purple style intro, as does the hook and chorus. The album closes out with The Winner. A big hair, rock, mid tempo anthem with a great riff.

No new ground being broken here, but this is a very classy release.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KARNIVOOL – Asymmetry

May 5, 2023 /

There comes along a band once in a while that just defies categorization and are so insanely good that you can’t believe that everyone does not know them. Karnivool are just that band.

This album was released back in 2013 and  other than a single that was released in 2021, it was the last album that the band put out. Not the most prolific of bands I think you’d agree, but when they do release tunes they are of the most epic proportions. They are usually classed in reviews as progressive metal, and I guess that’s as close as you get with pigeonholing them. Think of Muse mixed with Radiohead and Tool, and you may have an inkling of what they sound like.

This is not an easy listen, you have to immerse yourself to go deep and devote the time to appreciate what is on offer here, but when it clicks nothing will come close. I guess my favourite track is Sky Machine, as I love the way the vocal harmonizes with the picked guitar line and that heavy almost funky drum groove.

Such a rewarding album and every time I play it, I find something different to obsess over. There are not many one off bands around and originality is hard to come by in an over crowded music scene, but Karnivool are out here by themselves.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

BON JOVI – s/t

May 5, 2023 /

The album that started it all. Interestingly enough, the song that really drew attention to the band, Runaway wasn’t even recorded by the band other than Jon on vocals. It was recorded by a bunch of session guys a year earlier. I guess the label didn’t have that much faith in the old BJ’s, as I would have at least re-recorded it with the band to get that continuity. How they were wrong ,hey?

Let’s be straight here, this album is chock full of bangers, not a dull moment. I rate this album as high as Slippery, and if the production was better it’s a close run thing. Other than the obvious Runaway, I’m going to pick a track that deserves your attention but doesn’t get the spotlight too much and that’s Roulette. A much heavier sound and groove and yet that commercial vibe and feel isn’t lost.

If you saw Bon Jovi early, say after the first three albums, they could rock it out with the best of them and they put on a great show. Sure, it’s a great album.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STAGE DOLLS – s/t

May 4, 2023 /

This is this Norwegian band’s third release that came out back in ’88. The album was delayed a year in the US and the single Love Cries did quite well in the Billboard charts, whereas Wings Of Steel did well in Europe. The band occupy that space between pop and rock, a very slick well produced sound that was huge in America about five years earlier and would soon give way to songs with a harder edge.

The first three tracks Still In Love, Wings Of Steel, and Lorraine are superb pop/rock masterpieces. They all have great hooks and have that sing-a-long vibe in the chorus, and they sound huge. Love Cries just feels like you are listening to prime time Journey, well musically any way. My favourite track is Mystery which has a guest appearance from TNT’s Ronnie Le Tekro who lays down some guitar and a perfect solo. A quick mention to Don’t Stop Beleivin’ (no not that one) as it was close for favourite tune. The record company missed a beat here as I would have released this as a single. Its has a super smooth groove with a killer melody, and a hook and chorus to die for.

A great sounding album and if you are anyway in love with that eighties sound, you should own this.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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