THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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ACCEPT – Rise Of Chaos

October 1, 2024 /

Another Church Of Vinyl limited edition with Accept’s Rise Of Chaos, from 2017. I’ve noticed a lot of online comments lately that are ripping into Wolf Hoffman and his “version” of Accept, saying it no longer sounds like the band and all sorts of other weird remarks. But I know the internet is full of angry keyboard warriors just waiting to rip on anything. Anyhoo, I like how Accept sound without Udo. In fact, I think they are better.

The Andy Sneap production is great, giving so much power to the guitars without overpowering the mix. Wolf Hoffman knows that great metal music has to groove with beats and riffs to match, and this whole album does that from front to back. I think Marc Tornillo is the perfect voice to front that.

Tough to pick a favourite tune as it’s all killer, but for a change I’m going to pick two. The title track is just freakin’ awesome with superb old school chugga riffs a plenty and a matching heavy groove. I also love the old school Accept vibe of Analog Man. It’s a mid tempo groover that is very reminiscent of Judas Priest circa 1980.

Don’t believe all the internet trolls, Accept make great records and this is definitely one of them.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

OVERKILL – Immortalis

September 23, 2024 /

Another day, and another Overkill album to invade my day’s listening. This time it’s Immortalis from 2007, which was studio album number 14, and this version is a limited press from Church of Vinyl.

Devils In The Mist opens up the album and thrashes straight all over your face. What It Takes follows and this is my favourite tune. Killer riff and groove, prime time Overkill that will have you bouncing instantly. Play loud for max effect! Skull And Bones follows that groovefest with more chunk and a killer death growl vocal from Randy Blyth, and an epic ending. Classic thrash intro and groove to Shadow Of A Doubt with some killer riffage. Hellish Pride brings Side 1 to an end with a slower choppy riff and groove.

Walk Through Fire kicks off Side 2 with an AC/DC style riff, given the Overkill beefed up chunk fest. I love the intro and groove to Head On. There is almost a hint of funk to the main riff and that shifting of gears into a faster groove is killer. Max speed and max chugga’s are reapplied for Charlie Get Your Gun. Hell Is follows and has a monster intro and is very non-thrash but very metal until the explosion that you know is coming explodes into life. The album closes out with Overkill V…The Brand. An evil sounding single bass note rings out leading to staccato chugs and into max double kick thrash.

Great record by a great band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MR. BIG – Ten

September 23, 2024 /

So this is it, the final album… or as Anthrax would say…Over Finished Done Gone OUT! Well, I hope that’s the case, as we all know farewells don’t seem to last too long in the world of rock n’ roll.

The songwriting seems to be an even split between Eric Martin and Paul Gilbert this time around. Some songs they co-write, and some are single efforts. I tend to favour the ones that Paul has a hand in as there is a lot more going on musically. Eric’s songs are a lot more simple and to the point. They could be Eric Martin solo efforts, as the band identity fades. Whereas, on Good Luck Trying (my favourite tune) which opens up the album, has a very busy blues arrangement that they do so well and is a trademark Mr/ Big groover.

Other high points for me are What Were You Thinking (another blues based old time rock n’ roll groover), Up On You (which is a fun mid tempo rocker), and the close out track 8 Days On The Road (which PG sings and is a cover of the Fogahat tune also done by Aretha Franklin).

If this was your last album you’d want to go out on a bang, right? Instead, it sort of goes out on a squelch. It’s a solid record but not a great one.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

OVERKILL – Horroscope

September 23, 2024 /

Now, Overkill don’t make bad records, they just make slightly lees great ones. Overkill have released 20 studio albums, of which this is album number five. Of all the original thrash bands, I would say that Overkill are the ones that have stayed true to the formula and not deviated from the thrash path as much as their counterparts.

This is a 2021 reissue of this 1991 classic and the first thing you notice is how quiet it is. I love the leading you into a false sense of security intro with the quiet, eerie, and creepy piece before maximum thrash riffage and  groove ensues with the opener Coma. Other than Overkill, Anthrax are the ones you can hear a punk influence in their music, and on this album Thanx For Nuthin’ is that crossover tune. I love it!

A weird choice of a cover in Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein, but it weirdly works. My favourite track is probably the slowest track on the record, the title song Horroscope. Very fat and heavy chugga’s lead the charge in an old school Sabbath homage.

As I said, they don’t make bad records and this is another enjoyable thrash romp.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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