THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 159 of 479)

SAXON – Strong Arm Of The Law

June 3, 2023 /

This is album number three for one of NWOBHM’s finest sons. It’s definitely safe to say that the band were in a golden period that would last up until Power And The Glory.

Saxon were our band, as they came from only a few miles from where I lived. I always and still do prefer this version of  Saxon to Iron Maiden as the band had that sense of melody added to the crunch, which made them special. Saxon were also regulars on Top Of The Pops (the UK chart show) at the time, as the singles Strong Arm Of Law and Hungry Years did quite well. However, it was Dallas 1 PM that was the one that got a lot of the attention as it was about the assassination of Kennedy. It’s my favourite track on the album, a timeless classic that I never tire of hearing.

Although the band are still going, they are a shadow of what they once were and if you are new to a Saxon this is a good place to start.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

WIG WAM – Out Of The Dark

June 2, 2023 /

Now, I love this band and their last album was a bonafide classic in every way. The heavier sound worked wonders for the band and I’m pleased to say that continues with this release. This is album number six, and they have just finished their first tour in the US and I’m pleased to say they went down a storm. The first thing you notice is the great comic book cover with the band portrayed as super heroes.

The title track gets the album underway with a typical Wig Wam monster. Huge hook and chorus with Trond Holter providing his trademark monster riff, and the groove is killer. High And Dry is a slower pounding groove with a huge guitar sound and again, you’ll be humming the melody all day. Forevermore has a traditional folk vibe but is also the heaviest sounding track so far, mainly due the crunch of the guitar. I love the gang sing along!! Bad Luck Chuck is a super fun good time rocker. Killer riff and huge hook and chorus. Side 1 closes out with Uppercut Shazam, and you can guess by the title there’s no ballad here. Killer up tempo groove and Trond’s monster riffage driving this beast along.

Side 2 kicks off with Ghosting You, my favourite track. A superb, almost funky, choppy riff with a cool solo, and those vocal harmonies are killer. Massive guitar sound at the intro to The Purpose, which slows the pace right down. Great vibe to the whole song and the solos are superb. The groove and tempo increase for American Dream. Yet another kick ass hook and chorus with max riffage. This one will get your day bouncing for sure.

The big surprise on the album is the guitar instrumental 79. Trond really gets to show what a killer player he is. To give you some idea, the vibe reminds me of Parisienne Walkways and I could have easily picked this as my favourite. Huge riff a go go coming right at ya with God By Your Side. Killer track, love the hook and chorus. We close the album out with Sailor And The Desert Son and this is how you close out a record. An epic sounding tune with huge dynamics and traditional elements mixed in with the crunch that only Wig Wam do.

These guys deserve your support and are the best melodic rock band around at the minute.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DIRTY WHITE BOY – Bad Reputation

June 1, 2023 /

So, when David Glen Eisley had been removed from Giuffria he teamed up with renowned session player Earl Slick to form a short lived, hard rockin’, glam metal band. This album is the only evidence that band existed, which is a shame as they did work hard at this project touring all over the US and Europe.

The title track opens up the album and right from the off this a great uptempo beast of a tune and is my favourite on the album. Lazy Crazy follows and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s Cinderella you are listening to as it’s that close. That stripped back hard rockin’ blues sound continues into Let’s Spend Momma’s Money, and you can almost smell the whiskey with Slick playing some mean slide. You Give Me Love is next up and we are in ballad country, although that guitar sound is really cool and Eisley’s vocals are close to sounding like Steve Perry. Side 1 closes out with Dead Cat Alley. A killer slow build up that delivers a huge hook and chorus.

Hammer On The Heart opens up Side 2 with a monster groove and killer riff, you’ll be singing this one for the rest of the day. Hard Times is power ballad time and in the quieter moments there’s a definite Foreigner vibe with some Rush chords thrown in to confuse the listener. Now, Son Of A Loaded Gun is more of what we want. Great intro, love the guitar sound, and it’s a late eighties hands in the air anthem. One Good Reason feels like a mid west country rocker but with a Journey vibe. We close out the record with Badlands, it’s another slow one to start and takes a while to get going.

I have to say the album does tail off on Side 2, it needs a couple more rockers to liven it up. The production is great from Beau Hill and you do wonder if the record company wanted them to sound like Bon Jovi, because they sound better rockin’ out.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CHICKENFOOT – s/t

May 31, 2023 /

I know I have mentioned before my total dislike for Sam The Sham and his incessant internet ramblings and constant bashing of DLR, before Eddie’s death he would lash out the VH brothers periodically. Chickenfoot however, intrigued me and I was wondering what they would cook up. I also went to see them live and I know this may sound like me digging at Sham, but he was by far the weak link in this band. If you’ve seen them live you will know what I mean.

For instance, on tracks like Get It Up and Turnin’ Left the band will go off into a jam towards the end and cook up some real epic moments musically, and instead of walking off while they were in the groove he would just stand there flailing like some newbie at a fitness class. It’s the groovier tunes where this band really shine.

Soap On A Rope is a killer simple groove and so effective you can’t help but sing along. Get It Up is another killer tune with a great riff from Satch and that rhythm section is just so good. The best track however is a Turnin’ Left. Another killer groove from Smith and Anthony, but this track is all about Satriani. It’s good to see and hear Joe in a band environment and he just rules this track, and vocally this whole album is probably the highlight of Sham’s career.

This is a great record and any lovers of hard rock should be snapping this one up.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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