THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: art of anarchy

BONFIRE – Knock Out

March 25, 2024 /

Album number four for the ever solid German rockers, Bonfire. Whereas most bands of this ilk disappeared with the great grunge unpleasantness, Bonfire have carried on consistently releasing quality albums right up until 2020’s Fistful Of Fire.

The album is all original compositions, apart from a cover of Billy Squier’s massive hit The Stroke, which I’m guessing was chosen because Mack produced both records. Now, with a song that huge you either have to do something out of the box and original or just don’t bother, and basically this is a note for note copy, but not as good. The middle section is okay with the heavy chords and maybe that’s what they should have done with the rest of the song, to beef it up a bit.

Frankly, their own songs are more than adequate and the having a good time vibe is what they are good at. Dirty Love is a fun rocker tune with a great groove and huge vocal harmonies. Shake Down is another tune with the same vibe and groove. and it is just a great rock song. Side 2 opener Hold You is a fun track. That Def Leppard vibe works really well and you could argue that Mack is using that Stroke beat and groove again here. When they rock out they are a really great band and Down And Out does just that, it’s my favourite track on the album.

A very underrated band that deserve more credit than they get.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

AXE – S/T

March 25, 2024 /

This is the debut album from the Floridians, Axe, released back in ’79. Most of the rock world was going in a more heavy direction around this time but Axe were unleashing this pomp rock monster. By listening to these songs, they were heavily influenced by Styx on this album. They became more commercial and radio friendly around the release of Offering, but this is a bit if an underground classic in AOR circles.

I would go as far to say that Yes were an influence on the album as well, because keyboards play a prominent part throughout the album. The whole vibe around the album is very uplifting and there are none of those nasty evil chords to darken matters. Highlights for me are opener Life’s Just An Illusion, which is the best song on the album. It’s got loads of melody and vocal harmonies with a great hook and chorus.

Hang On is another great uptempo pomp monster. These guys sure know how to write a ditty. The Springsteen flavoured Back On The Streets is a close call for favourite tune and Doing The Best That I Can has a very familiar main vocal melody that I’m sure the Yardbirds used on Shapes Of Things. My only down point for the whole album is the drum sound. They sound so flat and lifeless.

Although it does sound a tad dated, it’s not a bad album at all.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ART OF ANARCHY – Let There Be Anarchy

March 7, 2024 /

The name Art of Anarchy is very similar in name to Sons Of Apollo. I guess Mr. Soto and Mr. Bumblefoot wanted to carry on with that Prog metal groove with this new project, seeing as MP is back in DT.

We have a very heavy and pounding opening with Die Hard. Double kicks speeding away with some very tasty drop tuned riffage, courtesy of Bumblefoot and one John Votta, whose brother, Vince is providing the pound, and of course Jeff is singing his ass off. It is very reminiscent of SOP. That heavy pounding groove continues with the intro to Echo Your Madness. It has a very catchy riff, melody line, and hook from Jeff. Vilified is a power ballad and we all know how powerful Jeff is at singing these type of songs.

Bridge Of Tomorrow is all about the vocal. Starting with a cool acoustic groove and adding in the power as the song proceeds, letting the vocal sit over the top. Cool song! The Side 1 close out tune Writing In The Wall is a heavy slow brooder with Jeff adding the cherry on the top again with a superb hook and melody.

Rivals opens up Side 2 with a very eerie opening, leading into a very cool riff. If I am being honest here, this feels like a JSS solo album as every song is centred around the vocal. Sure, the band is hot and killer and the riffs fly, but it does feel like that. Blind Mans Victory is basically a very cool AOR song with huge riffs and beats at peak moments. The middle and ending is a supremely heavy addition to make it feel like a different song.

I think Dying Days is my favourite, with a very heavy low down riff and that huge hook and chorus. The Good The Bad And The Insane starts just like the western movie with a similar name, before the heavy kicks in. The album ends with Disarray and a vibe very similar to Train Of Thought era DT.

My only gripe with the album is not a fault of the music but the pressing itself is soooo quiet, I’m having to crank the amp. I hope they carry on, I like this album a lot.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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