THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 21 of 462)

RAVEN – The Pack Is Back

October 27, 2024 /

This is the album where Raven went as close to being a hair band as possible. They had to have been under pressure from the record company to come out with such a radio friendly record as this.

With the first two tracks, The Pack Is Back and the cover Gimme Some Lovin’, you’d swear that you were listening to Gary Glitter. I haven’t played this in a long while, and unfortunately it doesn’t get any better with age. It’s not bad it’s just weird when you know what came before.

Occasionally, they are allowed to be themselves (sort of) with songs like Young Blood (favourite track) when a hint of Raven frenzy materializes, but mostly it’s ordinary pop rock and in one case with Hyperactive, just embarrassingly bad.

Raven with Horns anyone? Nope, it’s just wrong. 

5.5/10 from The Grooveman.

WIDOWMAKER – Stand By For Pain

October 25, 2024 /

After the initial demise of Twisted Sister, Dee Snider put together a short lived project called Desperado. When they folded, Widowmaker was formed, which was basically Desperado but with Al Pitrelli on guitar.

I know TS were super popular, especially in the US, but this album (their second and final release) was the highlight of Snider’s career. Much heavier and darker material and taking influences from what was around at the time. Long Gone for instance could have been any Seattle band at the time, but way better. Protect And Serve reminds me of Pantera with that double kick roll and the heavy guitar groove. Ready To Roll is my favourite tune on the album and maybe the best thing Snider has done. The initial riff and groove at the intro messes with your brain as the head wants to follow the groove but your body follows the riff. Great stuff! The only song you could compare to TS would be The Iron Road with its straight metal riff, double kick groove, and sing along title line.

I guess the public didn’t take to the band as after this they were done. Shame, as this is a good effort.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

McCOY- Think Hard

October 24, 2024 /

So, when the Gillan band ceased to be, a lot of interesting little off shoots with members appeared. Other than Mammoth, which I was sure was a joke because all of the other bands had some great material.

This record released in 84 under the McCoy name is not a bad effort and is somewhat forgotten. In places it is a very melodic record with some very poppy tunes as John is joined by Gillan bandmate Colin Towns on keys, Paul Samson on guitar, Ron Rebel on drums, and an unknown T. Bone on vocals.

Freemind and Demon Rose open the album and are both great songs, showing how melodic these guys were defying the image that everyone had of John. Demon Rose is my favourite track on the record. Paul Samson has always liked a blues shuffle and Fear Of The Morning is a fine example.

The rest of the tracks are lost in that mid seventies sound.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SKYBLOOD – S/T

October 23, 2024 /

Mats Levin is a vocalist who has appeared on seemingly squillions of records. I’m sure you have at least one album in your collection with a song where he lends his voice to (do a search and you will be amazed). But, this is the first time he is the head honcho on his own project playing guitar and keys, as well as that very distinctive voice.

Progressive metal encompasses a very wide breadth of musical styles. I would definitely put this album in the progressive metal box, but we do veer off into folk and norse melody, as well as the expected metallic crunch. This is not an album that immediately connects straight away, you have listen to this over and over because this is an album that keeps on giving with every listen.

Mats is not a squealer or a wailer, he has a very expressive voice and knows how to write a killer melody and hook. Highlights for me are The Not Forgotten and Wake Up To The Truth because they both have a great groove and killer vocals, but my favourite track is For Or Against. With a quirky marching style riff and groove, and Mats giving it the full beans on toast. This is the track that took the longest for me to latch onto and I just love it.

I do like to be challenged with an album and I found this record very rewarding, and I still do.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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