THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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JOSHUA – Intense Defense

May 25, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Joshua are one of the better Christian hard rock bands that sprouted up in the late eighties. Named after guitarist Joshua Perahia, they have one of the best hard rock vocalists out there in Rob Rock, and this is the best album they put out.

High on melody, memorable hooks with some ripping guitar, this is a great record. You would never know this is a Christian rock album because the lyrics are not overtly Christian and there was a stigma attached to that by some outlets back in the day. It’s just a great melodic rock record and let’s face it, anything Rob Rock puts his voice to is damn good.

My favourite tune is Reach Up, which is a co-write with Ken Tamplin and Joshua Perahia. A full on melodic rock gem with a killer riff, a great vocal, and great melody. I know this has had the reissue treatment on CD but if you see an OG copy on vinyl snap it up as it will be a great addition to anyone’s collection.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – When Dream And Day Unite

May 23, 2025 / / 0 Comments

This was the first stuttering steps to Dream Theater’s ascent to Prog metal gods. Released back in ´89 and produced by Terry Date, who would go on to give Pantera, gave them huge leg up with a killer production. However, the sound he gets here is a bit thin and lightweight, and does not get the best out of the songs. This is the only album to have Charlie Dominici on vocals and although Charlie is a decent vocalist, his voice does not suit the material and it’s obvious a change was needed.

The band obviously rate a lot of the material because occasionally some of these songs are played live to this day, namely A Fortune In Lies, The YTSE Jam, and Only A Matter Of Time.  The YTSE Jam is my favourite track because it has all of the elements for future DT music, and I’m a sucker for an instrumental.

Not a classic by their standards but still a great listen.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HAREM SCAREM – Chasing Euphoria

May 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Harem Scarem are definitely one of those bands that shoulda, coulda, woulda. Mood Swings and Voice Of Reason are two of my favourite melodic rock records. Mood Swings is a genre defining record, and when you consider that it came out in ´93 you can understand why no one outside of the melodic rock community heard it.

Fast forward to 2025 and here we have a new album comprised of ten songs, with the majority around the 3.30 mark in length, keeping them short and snappy in pop song territory. As you would expect, every song has a massive hook and chorus with vocal harmonies a plenty, but the album does seem to lack in the variety department and you do wonder if they are just giving “them” what they want here.

The song that shakes my tree the most is ironically the only one Harry does not sing lead vocal on, and that’s Gotta Keep Your Head On where Darren Smith takes the lead instead. It’s a great song with a nice riff and groove from Pete. They don’t make bad records and if you love the big hook and chorus then you will be like a pig in the mud.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SWEETHARD – S/T

May 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments

This is the only album by Sweethard. It was released back in ´85 but by ´86 they were dust in the wind. Sounding like a metal band but with an image more akin to a bargain basement glam band on their first visit to Sephora, it’s actually not a bad record. Maybe if they had gone with the denim and leather approach they would have fared a little better, or if they didn’t put Mary Beat Me Blue on the record.
Although musically it’s not too bad a track, it’s the lyrics that are cheese ball central.

Anyhoo, my favourite tune is Way Out Of Hell but with the chugga crunch of Goodbye in a close second. There were a million bands like this in the mid eighties and you had to have something a bit special to get noticed and unfortunately, it’s something Sweethard did not possess. It’s still a fun listen though.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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