THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 185 of 492)

PRETTY ROUGH – Got The Fire

April 22, 2023 /

Another Canadian band that didn’t do a whole bunch outside of Canada. Hailing from Edmonton, Pretty Rough released two albums of which this is the second, and was released in ’84.

You have to wonder why record companies sign bands sometimes, as they obviously don’t know what they have. For example, I think the only single that was released was Don’t Bite. Now, it’s not a bad track and it got to #14 in the charts, but the far better track was Hold On. Now this tune rocks, and was a much better piece to be released as a single but for some reason it wasn’t meant to be. In fact, Tearin’ Up would have also been better, as the similarities to Brian Adams are quite evident and it’s a great tune to boot.

The album sounds very of it’s time, and if they would have concentrated on the rock tunes instead of pop tunes like Trouble Boy, then they may have done more.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CONCEPTION – The Last Sunset

April 22, 2023 /

This is the Norwegian band’s first album, released back in ’91. They were a more straight ahead metal band at this point, before the huge progressive vibes came to the fore. Nice to see that they have remastered these reissues specifically for vinyl, as they were originally CD only releases, and I have to say they sound great.

Prevision kicks things off, then it’s straight in with Burning A Force – the double kicks blasting in with a suitably metal riff to match. It has an interesting middle section with some killer playing. War Of Hate has a very odd intro with Spanish guitar flurries before the metal arrives, and Khan supplying the drama with that oh so distinctive voice. The Spanish influence returns in the instrumental middle eight. Bowed Down With Sorrow is up next and the pace slows right down with the slow riff repeating over and over.

Side 2 opens up with Fairy’s Dance, a metal take on a folk themed vibe – a very cool tune. Another World starts with a great choppy riff that sounds a tad like Metallica in places, and towards the end it turns into a Sabbath-style doom fest. Elegy follows and it’s an instrumental track with a Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here vibe. The title track is up next and it’s my favourite track. It’s the one song on the album which points to what is to come. Killer vocal!! Live To Survive starts with some old school thrash riffage in fact it’s what drives the whole tune. Among The Gods is the last proper track on the album. Great riffage with the return of the flamenco influence, mixed with that slight Metallica vibe. Side 4 is given over to three demos: Midnight Sun, Bound To Suffer, and By Dawns Early Night – which are all killer.

A great band that thankfully are back together again.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ALTER BRIDGE – Pawns & Kings

April 21, 2023 /

This is album number seven from these Floridian melodic metallers. Arguably much better than Creed Alter Bridge, who are now Marc Tremonti’s main focus. Myles Kennedy does his side gig with Slash, but I personally think that Alter Bridge is when it works the best. Kennedy’s voice is superb and compliments Tremonti’s huge riffing guitar crunch perfectly.

This Is War opens up the album with a huge riff and groove, and the hook and chorus is killer. More of the same with Dead Among The Living. That drop tuned guitar sounds awesome. It’s favourite track time with Silver Tongue. An absolutely monumental riff rips your ears, and the vocal melody is superb. The vibe and mood changes completely with the intro to Sin After Sin with a very eerie sounding tone. A huge sounding track with a killer vocal. Stay closes out Side 1, a quite commercial sounding track that would have made a great single.

Side 2 slams straight in the with the huge riff to Holiday. Great vocal harmonies to this one. Fable Of The Silent Sun is the big centrepiece of the album that builds and builds. A very dramatic musical landscape with that epic voice over the top. Season Of Promise has that very modern rock vibe going down and would have made a good single. Last Man Standing is killer with a Prog metal sounding groove and riff. Epic vocal from Myles. The album closes out with the title track. Lots of twists and turns musically, that keep the listener engaged because it feels as though you are listening to many different songs at the same time.

Alter Bridge don’t do bad records, and you won’t be disapointed with this one.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

STUCK MOJO – Rising

April 21, 2023 /

Stuck Mojo are the kings of what was groove rap metal. This Atlanta-based band was formed back in ’89. I remember reading a blurb in Kerrang magazine calling their first release, Snapping Necks a groove metal onslaught, and I bought it straight away. This was their third release, and their love of all things WWE was evident for all to see with Rich Ward and Corey Lowery pumping iron to look like their heroes. The guitar sound and production are freaking awesome, courtesy of Andy Sneap who now in his spare time is the touring guitarist for Judas Priest.

The album explodes into life with Crooked Figurehead, a blast at US politics and the reporting of. Great groove and riffage. Next up is Trick, a monster groove and the middle eight is to die for. The relentless groove continues with Assassination Of A Pop Star and drummer Bud Fontsere is laying it down hard. The title track is next and the music video showed the band in the ring with some of their heroes, this is the most commercial tune on the album. The outro’s heavy riffage is awesome as well. Next up is the ultra groovy Southern Pride. Killer riff and just the slight hint of funk to complement the crunch. Enemy Territory closes out Side 1 and man, what a huge heavy beast of a tune it is. Killer stuff!

Side 2 blows in with Back In The Saddle. A huge sounding chord progression opens up what is a slow paced groove, but it sounds oh so heavy. Dry follows and jeez, another killer groove and max riffage blows the cobwebs away. I love the hook and melody to this one. Next up is one of may favourite mojo tunes, Throw The Switch. The riff and groove are relentless and the twisted Throw The Switch line is killer. Hang ‘Em High moseys on in with a seriously dirty riff and groove. Tears slides on in and the riffs continue to pummel the brain. I love the hook and the accompanying riff. Pipebomb follows and the relentless assault continues. Huge sounding riff and groove. The album closes out with Suburban Ranger, the only totally rap groove on the album and it works so well.

This album and the one that followed (Declaration Of A Headhunter) were two of the best albums of the 90’s.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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