THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 426 of 492)

MELIAH RAGE – Kill To Survive

May 27, 2021 /

Formed in ’87 and hailing from Boston, this is the band’s first album surprisingly on a major label (Epic) and released the following year in ’88. Obviously inspired by NWOBHM as they do not sound American at all. Their main claim to fame is that Godsmack’s Sully Erna was their drummer on 2002 ‘s Unfinished Business.

Opening track, Beginning Of The End, could have been written 10 years earlier as it has a very strong NWOBHM influence. Second track in, Bates Motel, is a pretty standard metal by numbers track. Third track is the band’s name check track, Meliah Rage, and sees the band moving more into the Bay Area sound – its the best track on the album. Total rifferama! As metal instrumentals go, it’s a good one. Last track on Side 1, Deadly Existence, leans heavily on the early Metallica sound and is a great thrash track.

Flipping over to Side 2 with opener, Enter The Darkness, that speeds in with fat riff city and a killer bass line – it’s back to that NWOBHM vibe. Next up is Impaling Doom and the band are trying to break the world land speed record. This track is fast until the fat chugga riff kicks in, which I presume is to save the drummer from imminent death – and then we’re back to the sprint. Last track, The Pack, changes gears pretty quickly. It has a hint of math metal with some off time chord patterns – it’s a really good song to end on.

I think the band are still around as they last released an album in 2018. A quite enjoyable metal romp.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

KAMELOT – Poetry For The Poisoned

May 26, 2021 /

This would be the last album that would feature vocalist Roy Khan before his departure back to the mighty Conception – I could not believe he left them in the first place. Originally formed in Florida in ’87, it wasn’t until Khan joined for 98’s Siege Perilous that the band’s fortunes took an upturn.

The album starts with the epic The Great Pandemonium – modern Prog metal at its finest. A great production lifts the track, mixed with some great playing. If Tomorrow Came seems to be two songs in one, as Khan seems to be singing a ballad, and yet blast beats drive in the background. A short interlinking piece, Dear Editor, leads into side closer, The Zodiac, which showcases Khan’s operatic tendencies with his full range and a guest appearance from Jon Olivia.

Side 2 starts with Hunters Season with an appearance from Gus G on guitar, and they say cream always rises to the top, which keeps the track galloping along Maiden style. House On A Hill has a guest appearance from Simone Simmons and this is a full on rock opera folks. Necropolis closes out Side 2, and like most of the tunes on the album, it has a dramatic beginning but then a slower pace until the middle eight where we are back to the gallops.

Side 3 begins with My Train Of Thought, and it’s very noticeable that there are no riffs that drive the songs. It seems to be just rhythm, chords, and keyboards that drive the songs – oh – and Roy Kahn. Seal of Woven Years is up next and has a very atmospheric intro that feels as though I’m in a medieval village awaiting the arrival of the galloping Prog metal warriors – and lo and behold here they come! If I’m honest it’s all getting a bit Sammy, but very well played and executed. As per the Prog metal rule book, next up is the title track and its in four parts. I mean what Prog metal band have not done this? That’s right – none! Sarcasm to one side for a moment, this is a very well written and delivered track with all the troughs and peaks and highs and lows you would expect. One thing is for sure – they will miss Roy Kahn (and they did).

Over to Side 4 with Once Upon A Time and it’s back to the race track we go with an actual sniff of a riff to get our teeth into. There is a bonus track but it’s an uncut version of House On A Hill which was on Side 2. I know there are fans that like them to play the same album over and over again, but I am not one of those I’m afraid. I like to see a band pushing themselves. It does feel as though KAMELOT have been making the same album for 15 years – but they do it very well.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND – Live

May 26, 2021 /

What happened quite a lot in the seventies was that bands put out live albums as sort of filler albums, to pad out the contract, then the record companies would make them single albums – thereby giving the public a highlights set. The Harvey’s were a fantastic live band and I would have killed to have a full concert at the time. Anyhoo, we are least left with this single disc as a testament to one of the best live bands I have ever seen.

This was recorded at the Hammy O in ’75. I caught the tour after this and they were smokin’. The album starts off with Fanfare, which is a short intro piece that leads into the pulsing bass of Faith Healer – one of SAHB’s best loved tunes and has been covered by lots of bands. The song has a lot more oomph live, mainly due to the guitar being turned up. Harvey’s love of all things comic book is represented by The Tomahawk Kid, and he is away and in full story telling mode, “Captain Dan and Billy Bones and me The Tomahawk Kid”. I lapped this up when I was at school. Again, its a lot leaner and heavier in the live setting. Next is Vambo and is as heavy as the band would get. A great chopping riff from Zal – this would be his showcase spot in the show. “Vambo Vambo sweat and labour he never never steal from neighbour” a mantra for a modern age. If only!

Over to Side 2 with the awesome Give My Compliments To The Chef, which shifts through the gears to the killer middle section. Great tune! Their biggest hit in the UK, a cover of Tom Jones’ Delilah is next, and was a great sing-a-long for the crowd. Framed closes out the album, although it didn’t close out the show, that would be Anthem (complete with bagpipers), which brought a tear to the eye. It sees Alex in full on gangster modern spitting out the lyrics.

I doubt we shall ever see bands like this ever again, and this album definitely is a moment in time never to be repeated.

10/10 from the Grooveman.

ELECTRIC SUN – Firewind

May 25, 2021 /

On the outside, it seemed like a strange decision to leave the Scorpions just as they had signed a new contract with Phonogram – they were on the up. But Uli had been unhappy with his position in the band for a long time, and decided the time was right. Uli is a huge Hendrix fan and you can hear it in his playing – he was even seeing Jimi’s old girlfriend for a while, Monica Danneman. I for one, find that a bit strange, but what do I know.

There is no denying Uli’s brilliance as a guitar player, but his vocal style is not for everyone as it feels as though he is straining all the time. Cast Away Your Chains is a nice opening track with some killer playing. Indian Dawn, musically, is freaking awesome especially in the breakdown section and has a very 70’s vibe. I’ll Be Loving You Always is a ballad with some great playing, but this is the one track where you realize that a better voice would have been heaps better. The title track follows and is great Euro metal sounding piece where Uli really stretches out on the guitar. A short instrumental piece, Prelude In Space Minor, closes out Side 1 and is very Hendrix in its execution.

Side 2 opens up with Just Another Rainbow and is very Band Of Gypsies – especially with the intro. Children Of The Sea is up next and is pleasant and laid back tune, but the vocals do detract somewhat. Chaplin An I is another very similar track before we get to the album closer and the big showpiece Enola Gay (Hiroshima Today). This is where Uli shows us what a killer guitar player he is and unloads every weapon in his arsenal. This is why every guitar player cites him as an influence. All the effects and toys are on display in the the full on Hendrix tribute in part three, the Attack Of Enola is outstanding.

So you may wonder why I bought this album, with me not being to keen on the vocals? Well its all about the guitar. I’m a huge guitar fan, and there is enough guitar awesomeness on display here to keep me more than happy.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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