THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 192 of 492)

EXODUS – Bonded By Blood

March 25, 2023 /

A band that gets overlooked somewhat when we are talking about the beginnings of thrash. Exodus should be included in the so-called “big four,” as other than Metallica’s Kill Em All, Bonded By Blood is the best early thrash album.

No let up right from the get go, it’s pedal firmly to the metal all the way. That twin guitar of Holt and Hunholt was the best, coupled with the crazed vocal style of Paul Baloff, who sadly is no longer with us, made Exodus special. Piranha, Strike Of The Beast, and my favourite A Lesson In Violence are insanely killer thrash epics.

Of course, Baloff was replaced by Zetro Souza after this album and I do love the records that came after, but this was a special album at a special place in time that will never be repeated.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

EMERSON LAKE PALMER – Brain Salad Surgery

March 25, 2023 /

The band the punks hated the most, as they saw them as all that was bad with the excesses of the music industry. And to a point, I have to agree with the whole stage show and the stabbing of the Hammond in Emerson’s solo was a tad ridiculous.

The first two pieces are interpretations of classical pieces with quite a patriotic version of Jerusalem and Toccata, which is cool if you like timpani solos. We have to wait until track 3 until we get to an original piece, a Greg Lake tune – Still You Turn Me On. This album is all about Karn Evil 9 though, which takes up the last track on Side 1 and the whole of Side 2. I think everyone is familiar with “Welcome my friends to the show that never ends” and other than Fanfare For The Common, this is their most well known piece. The whole of Side 2 is my favourite ELP moment.

Prog to jazz, and all points in between makes it very challenging indeed. Listening to it after such a long time it does sound quite dated, but I do have fond memories hearing it for the first time.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

HOUSE OF LORDS – New World, New Eyes

March 24, 2023 /

This is album number twelve from these veteran melodic pomp rockers, released in 2020. The only surviving early member is vocalist James Christian, and he is joined here with killer guitarist Jimi Bell, bassist Chris Tristram, and BJ Zampa on the pots and pans.

The title track opens up Side 1 and it is a slick, well produced, killer tune. Great vocal and melody, and as usual Jimi Bell brings the rock. Changes sounds epic right from the get go with the orchestral keyboard intro and we are dipping our toe here in progressive waters. Melodic Prog indeed! One More is up next and this a straight up kick ass rocker. Mr. Bell provides the right amount of riffage, and I love the swing of this one. Ballad number one is next with Perfectly (You And I) and as usual with ballads, the solo is the high point for me. Side 1 closes out with The Both Of Us. Nice riff and a four to the floor groove.

Chemical Rush opens up Side 2 in fine rockin’ style at the intro with a nice fat riff, and I have to say this song feels so familiar. We’re All That We Got follows and is a slick aor melodic monster, with a great hook and chorus. Better Off Broken starts with the usual killer riff and the hook and chorus are really cool, plus it’s my favourite track. $ Bucks Of Gasoline follows and is the only track to have Tommy Denander on guitar. A nice busy riff and groove, with an added earworm chorus. The Chase feels like Aerosmith at the intro and the verse for sure. The album closes out with The Summit and gets the award for most rockin’ track on the record.  

A good album that has been spoiled somewhat by a very noisy pressing.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

KILLER DWARFS – s/t

March 24, 2023 /

Yet another Canadian band that did okay within Canada, but struggled to scratch the surface elsewhere. Formed in Oshawa in ’81, this is Killer Dwarfs’ debut album released in ’83. I caught the band live a few years ago and it was a good show with a healthy dose of humour thrown in. Vocalist Russ has a similar vibrato to Geddy Lee, but the music is straight up hard rock.

Are You Ready kicks things off with a nice heavy groove, a simple riff, and a catchy hook and chorus. Can’t Lose follows and the vibe and groove are very different, with a great swing to the riff and beat. Drifter has a slow build up which is cool, but the song is quite average and is the weakest on the album.  A definite improvement with Prisoner. The main riff and groove is NWOBHM to a T and those Geddy vibes are very evident in this song. Great solo as well! Heavy Mental Breakdown closes out Side 1 and the riff is old school for sure, it reminds me of early Budgie.

Side 2 opens up with Read Between The Lines and again, it’s a decent enough song but the production is seriously lacking. The tunes all sound empty and need filling out. I’m going to move onto my favourite track, Time To Move On. The riff we’ve all heard a million times before, but the sound on this one seems louder than the rest, and the groove of the song is cool.

Not a bad first album and they got way better especially with Big Deal.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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