THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 231 of 492)

ROYAL HUNT – Clown In The Mirror

November 29, 2022 /

Another superb reissue from the Night Of The Vinyl Dead label, their quality is top notch. This time it’s the second album from Denmark’s finest, Royal Hunt. I have mentioned before the amount of Euro bands that don’t mean a whole bunch in North America, and Royal Hunt are definitely are one of them. They are classed as progressive metal but they lean way more to the melodic side and come across as a heavier Kansas, well on this album anyway. The band revolves around main man and keyboard maestro Andre Andersen, and the majority of the songs are driven by the keys.

A huge pomp intro starts off the album in a very grandiose way that leads into opener Wasted Time, a great and very melodic track. On The Run mixes the pomp of the keys with an over the top operatic harmonies, and the double kicks driving all the way. Definitely my favourite track. Third Stage reminds me of Yngwie with huge classical overtones. Here Today Gone Tomorrow starts off at a killer pace and grooves hard.

They would change vocalists after this album, bringing in the great DC Cooper and I can see why as Henrik Brockmann’s vocals are the weak link on the album. Great music though!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – Blind

November 29, 2022 /

Let’s go all the way back to ’91 with what is COC’s best album. This is a killer reissue, as not only do you get the album but you get a whole albums worth of demos and B-sides. The liner notes are a superb read as well, they actually asked Chris Cornell to join the band prior to the recording of this album. Before this album they were more of a hardcore band and there are elements of that here, but ultimately this is quite a technical metal record with some killer grooves.

Dance Of The Dead is quite simple with a basic descending riff, but it’s a really cool song with hints of Sabbath. In fact, those Sabbath tones are sprinkled liberally throughout the album. Break The Circle has a hint of hip hop with the groove and vocal.  My favourite track is the brutal Vote With a Bullet, such a dirty riff and groove that just bounces along. This is the 30th anniversary reissue and it’s rather excellent.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

IT BITES – Once Around The World

November 28, 2022 /

I bet when It BItes had a hit with Calling All The Heroes from their first album, that Virgin thought they had struck gold. I would love to have been in the room when the execs got a playback of this beauty. Produced by Steve Hillage, this is a modern prog masterpiece. Yes, there are songs with a great pop sensibility like Midnight and Kiss Like Judas, but they are tinged with these big prog arrangements.

Cards on the table time, this is one of my favourite albums ever. An absolute killer selection of tunes with melodies that send goosebumps all over your body. The production and arrangements are freakin’ amazing, there is not a bad second on the whole album. No one sings like Francis, a truly unique individual with an amazing voice and a killer guitar player as well.

Eight songs of pure joy and delight with melodies and harmonies oozing from every groove, but it’s the closing masterpiece of Once Around The World that is my favourite song. It feels like an homage to every classic prog band that has gone before them, but with a twist all of their own. A superb album that sounds huge and you should definitely add this to your ever expanding collection.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

TESTAMENT – Souls Of Black

November 28, 2022 /

Another MOV reissue of one Testament’s classic early albums. Souls Of Black was release number four for the band, and is prime time Testament. I know I have mentioned this before, but these guys should have been in the Big 4 instead of Slayer, who I think are the most over hyped band in metal. There has to be a groove in the music that at least makes you want to bang your head. Testament have got that part down to a tee. They are the best at writing tunes full of groove and move.

The title track is a prime example of groove and move with a killer riff and beat. Side 2 has to be one of the best sides in thrash. Malpractice starts all groovy and weird, then a killer bouncy groove kicks in, it’s my favourite track. One Mans Fate really slays with a superb riff and killer groove! Testament rule!!!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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