THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: album review (Page 78 of 470)

FOCUS – At The Rainbow

February 28, 2024 /

I was quite happy when I saw that Music On Vinyl were remastering this live album, albeit with a different cover to the original copy that I already had. It’s quite hard to believe now, but back in the distant past Focus appeared on Top Of The Pops with the singles Hocus Pocus and Sylvia. I know it feels like being in a parallel universe because now there is seemingly no decent music played by humans that inhabit popular music at all. Not that Focus were ever a pop band, they were a Prog band and sat perfectly alongside Genesis, Yes, and King Crimson but with a niche sound all of their own.

The wonderful Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! Is a sprawling meandering beast of a tune that feels as though the band are just jamming with some great playing, especially from Jan Ackerman. The supercharged and seemingly speeding out of control version of Hocus Pocus is just a riot, and highly enjoyable.

Focus are a wonderful nostalgic part of my musical discovery and I will forever remember them fondly.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SKID ROW – The Gang’s All Here

February 26, 2024 /

I have not really given Skid Row any attention after the Subhuman Race album, because it all seemed too much drama and just playing the hits. But, when Eric Gronwall was announced as their new singer I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the album he did with H.E.A.T and I thought he may be what Skid Row was looking for.

Well, first thing I noticed was that Eric had zero input in songwriting on this album. There are a couple of outside writing collaborators and even two songs with their previous vocalist ZP Theart as a co-writer. And before I get into the music, I have to say that this is a very noisy pressing. This is the third copy I’ve owned and basically I just gave up and accepted it.

Anyway, musically the album has got that raw edge which I really liked on Subhuman Race, it was killer. Now, it’s not as heavy as that but it’s still a damn fine album. Songs like The Gangs All Here, Not Dead Yet, Nowhere Fast, Resurrected, and World On Fire are all ripping tunes and if that’s the way forward I’m happy. My favourite track is Not Dead Yet. It’s a full on kick ass rocker with a message that could be from the band or even from Eric with his cancer battle.

Yeah, welcome back Skid Row.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STEELHEART – Tangled In Reins

February 26, 2024 /

Album number two for these Connecticut rockers. The album was originally released back in ’92 and I guess the record company had high hopes for it as their debut album was certified gold, but with this album being released in ’92 it was never going to be easy. The band basically carried on where their first album ended, and they delivered another great hard rockin’ record.

There are plenty of tracks to get you up and moving. Like opener Loaded Mutha, which doesn’t disappoint. It’s got a great uptempo groove with a nice riff and a cool hook and chorus. Sticky Side Up is more of the same with a bit more swing. Electric Love Child slows the groove right down to a glam sleaze fest. Late For The Party is a typical weekend party song with a huge sing-a- long hook and chorus.

Love ‘Em And I’m Gone carries on that vibe and they really do have the knack of writing super catchy choruses. A great opening to Take Me Back Home, with lots of guitar. The band’s namesake tune Steelheart is the heaviest thing on this record and romps along at a fair old lick. Dancing In The Fire ends the record how we started it, with a great uptempo rocker with their trademark gang-sung hook and chorus. After that, we’ve got two ballads and that’s the album.

Steelheart are still out there playing live and released their last album in 2017. Overall, this is a fun album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CALIGULA’S HORSE – Charcoal Grace

February 20, 2024 /

I have only had this for about a week now, and I have played it constantly. This is the brand new 2024 release from the home of some of the best Prog metal on the planet, in the land down under. I know we are only one month in to the new year but this has to be a strong contender for album of the year.

This is album number six (I think?) and I’m digging the heavier groove. Part of the conditions when you join the Prog ranks and get your Prog licence is you have to have a track that covers a whole side and they do this here in the title track Charcoal Grace, and it’s split into four parts. More of that later. On to the opening tune The World Breathes With Med, I’m blown away with everything about this. It’s got soaring vocal harmonies, equally soaring guitars, and some serious heavy grooves, man what a tune. The opening choppy riff and groove to Golem is just wonderful, an absolute beast of a tune.

Now back to the title track, I think uplifting has to be the word of choice here as the whole piece gives me a sense of joy. Of course, the track builds and drops and builds again as you’d expect from a track clocking in at just over 24 minutes, taking the listener on a wonderful aural experience, but that’s what I expect from a band as good as this. Now if Inside Out believed in releasing singles then Sail would be my choice. It’s such a beautiful song with a superb vocal melody and the solo is sublime.

Stormchaser follows and I would say this is what I love most about the band. One minute they have the most beautiful delicate passages and melodies then they mix the same melody with some real low end boom and killer instrumentation. The end seems to arrive so quickly with Mute but it’s a 12 minute ending. It has such a dramatic intro and opening. Again, we get the delicate vocal and playing that gives way to maximum heaviness with double kicks and killer staccato riffing.

Great ending for a great album!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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