THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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HITTEN – First Strike With The Devil Revisited

March 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments

This is the revisited version of Hitten’s album that originally came out in 2014. It’s as though we have gone back in a Time Machine to 1980 and Iron Maiden and Tank had a love child. Seriously though, I’ve heard it all before. However, this is really good and very well executed. Old school metal with plenty of melody and hooks, it’s a treat to the ears I tell ya.

Chock full of bangers and not a dud in site. Tough to pick a favourite track but I’m going for Evil Power. The Maidenisms are on full and it’s so good. This is how I wish Maiden had carried on with this style.

I have all Hitten’s albums and they have progressed in style and moved away from this sound. They don’t make bad records and I highly recommend you dipping your toe into the Hitten universe. Great band, great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

HOLLAND – Little Monsters

March 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Holland aren’t quite a “one and they’re done” band because they released two albums, albeit fourteen years apart. This album came out in ’85 and is a nice slab of rock/pop. Also, this is the first album that guitar whizz Michael Angelo Batio appeared on and it has to be said, his playing does lift the songs. The band are based around the husky tones of vocalist Tom Holland, but it’s Batio that steals the show.

Highlights are Love In On Time, Sacrifice (very Def Leppard), and my favourite Wake Up The Neighbourhood. They up the speed and groove on this one and Batio is awesome. There are also a couple of stinkers and I guess that’s why they were dropped after this album.

It’s okay and a pleasant enough listen, and it’s cool to hear Batio in a more restrained mode.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BABYLON A.D. – Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day

March 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments

It’s kinda cool that these guys are still around because they had it given to them and then had it taken away so to speak, and yet they are still plugging away. The one and only Clive Davis at Arista gave them a contract after having seen them at a showcase because he was so impressed by them.

Now, this is a brand new recording with what I think are all new songs. The first thing I noticed is the mix. It sounds flat and muffled, especially the drums, and it’s a tad off putting. The songs are well put together and a couple of them are awesome. The rasp of Derek Davis’ vocals even brings out the best in some of them.

Open with a bang they say, and that’s just what the band do here with Wrecking Machine. Killer track with a massive hook and chorus and this is what Davis’ vocals were made for. Pain and White Hot Bullet are the other two monster tunes on Side 1 both with heavy riffs that hit the spot. There are a couple of power ballads that really don’t do much for me because it’s not my thing. The other ripping track on the album is Super Beast, which closes out the record. Ironically, it is the only track that Davis didn’t write and it’s an instrumental.

It’s not a bad effort, but that mix could have been a lot better.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

WRATHCHILD AMERICA – Climbin The Walls

March 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Not to be confused with their British counterparts with the same name, (hence the addition of America) these guys are a lot heavier and way more metal. They only released two albums and then they were done. I’m not sure what the other members are doing now, but drummer Shannon Larkin went on to drum for Ugly Kid Joe and Godsmack, and bassist Brad Divens played with Kix (I think).

Other than the instrumental track, Hernia which is just a space filler, the rest of the album is not bad and highly entertaining. I love the mix of traditional metal and thrash. Highlights for me are Climbin’ The Walls, No Deposit No Return, London After Midnight, and the epic (and my fave) Candy From A Madman. Musically, the Metallica and Maiden references are apparent throughout the album, but that’s not a bad thing, and lyrically they are quite inventive.

I’m sure the confusion with the name hurt them and maybe they should have picked another one, but what do I know. Fun album!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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