THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 160 of 479)

CRIMSON GLORY – Transcendence

May 30, 2023 /

This is album number two for one of America’s pioneers of the infant progressive metal movement. They are often called Queensryche clones which is very unfair as they definitely have their own sound and this is the their finest hour. Yup, Midnight does sing in that high register and has a hint of the operatic, as does Geoff Tate, but the music is going in a much different path. Queensryche gave up the metal in favour of epic statement but as you can hear here, Crimson Glory most definitely did not.

Opener and my favourite track Lady Of Winter is one of the better opening tracks you will hear anywhere. Killer riff and groove, and that hook and chorus for a metal band is top drawer. A more speed metal vibe to Red Sharks, and dare I say a hint of a Maiden gallop. That middle and ending is killer! Painted Skies is the one track where they do sound like Queensryche and it’s all down to the vocals. Back to the metal with Masque Of The Red Death, and this is where the band really shine for me. Side 1 closes out with In Dark Places, a big evil sounding dramatic piece with a very familiar riff 😉.

Side 2 opens up with Where Dragons Rule. A huge sounding, epic intro with awesome twin harmony guitars with a big Holy Diver vibe. Lonely follows and Midnight’s voice is the centre piece to this track, right from the slow intro to the end and it’s as close as this band get to a single. Cool riff! Burning Bridges is up next and a very similar intro and vibe to Lonely, but when that main riff kicks in… killer. Eternal World has the most epic of intros with a cool time change into the main tune. Heaviest track on the album? I would say so. The title track closes out the album with a huge sounding intro that flows into a somewhat medieval vibe.

Great record that sounds huge with a top production and mix.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VICIOUS RUMORS – Soldiers Of The Night

May 29, 2023 /

These are another band from the world of early eighties US metal that I thought would have done a lot more and been further on up the ladder. This is their debut album released on Shrapnel back in ’85, and I think it was the first appearance on record of guitarist Vinnie Moore. Other than a production that sounds as though it was recorded next door, this is a kick ass record and one of the first speed metal albums.

The album opens up with a short instrumental titled Premonition, before the album kicks in proper with Ride (Into The Sun). A full on power metal romp with some killer solos from Vinnie. Geoff Thorpe (who I think is still the only original member in the band today) is the other axman in the band. Medusa is a more traditional metal groove with a great riff, and the solos are top drawer. The title track is up next and the groove and vibe are anthemic chest thumping metal. Murder starts with a killer eerie guitar pattern then its double kicks a go go with a hint of Iron Maiden thrown in. March Or Die closes out Side 1 and this is my favourite tune. A slower groove and vibe with some great guitar, but it’s those cheesy eighties “death to false metal” style lyrics that really bring a smile.

Blitz The World blasts into life to kick off Side 2 . Double kicks pounding with a fast chugga riff and wailing guitars. Happy days! Invader is Vinnie just wailing, shredding, and showing off his chops; he would get his own solo release a year after this. In Fire is next up and I love the twin guitar intro before the main groove kicks in, and the speed on those kick drums…! No triggers here! A completely different vibe to Domestic Bliss; an early Sabbath feel with a much slower groove. Blistering Winds closes out the album and you can guess it’s not a ballad.

It’s amazing they are still going with all the trials that they have had.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

FISHBONE – In Your Face

May 27, 2023 /

There were a lot of cool things happening within the rock sphere towards the end of the eighties. A lot of mixing up of styles, and Fishbone were at the forefront of it all. The band originally formed way back in ’79 while they were still at school and this is their first album that was released in ’86, although there as an EP issued a year earlier.

The album opens up with When Problems Arise a track that contains a myriad of styles, although leaning more to the rock/funk vibe. A Selection follows and is heavily influenced by the English early eighties Mod Ska boom, and could have appeared on any album by The Beat. Over to Cholly and its reggae a go go, Caribbean style with a hint of The Police in the middle section. I Wish I Had A Date is still in reggae town but we have an added funk element. Movement In The Night is a super slick smooth jazz funk groove, and sounds killer.

Side 2 opens up with Give It Up; my favourite track. An uptempo, Police-style groover with a killer beat and a little soul added for your delight. In The Air is pure eighties funk pop. Another killer sounding track, I would have released this as a single. Turn The Other Way sounds like something out of modern a New Orleans jazz combo. The funkiest track on the album is Knock It, a monster old school groove. The album closes out with two short pieces: Simon Says The Kingpin and Post Cold War Politics. The first is a fast paced punk rockabilly blast, and the second is oompah with the band giggling over the top. Weird? …absolutely!

A fun album from a fun band.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DERAPS – s/t

May 26, 2023 /

Do you remember that feeling you had when you played the first Van Halen record? You know the one! Where you could not believe what you were hearing and that rock n’ roll would never be the same again. Well, these guys had that same feeling only about thirty years later. Except they wanted to emulate it and make something similar of their own. These guys really are freakin’ cooking!

For a first album this is one hell of a record. Led by the talents of one Jacob Deraps on vocals and lead guitar this is one type of record you thought you’d never hear again. After the short intro burst of Invasion, the album burst into life with Sex Drugs And Rock N’ Roll a straight Hot For Teacher-style blast that will have you going “WTF” instantly. Killer tune. My Side Of Town would make a great single if it was 1984. Great tune based around a simple riff with a superb hook and chorus.

Live Fast Die Slow is a blues based groover with a killer swing and epic solo. It’s favourite track time next with Veins Of My Heart. Absolute killer tune and this is as close as you get to a perfect rock song. A hook and chorus to die for, a crunching riff with epic tone, and a top drawer solo. Side 1 closes out with a short but great acoustic intro piece called Elizabeth.

Make Ya Groove kicks off Side 2 with a latin-style crunch riff with a matching groove, and I love the middle eight. Wild To The Woman follows and this one has that dirty rock n’ roll vibe with a monster guitar tone. On My Mind is next and again has a slight latin feel with great harmonies. F***k Off is the penultimate tune and this is a full on foot to the floor rocker. The riff is a speed ball blast and the solo ditto. The album closes out with a cover of the Sweet classic Ballroom Blitz and I’m glad to report they do it justice and add their little bit of pizzaz.

Not a bad first album that’s for sure.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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