THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 166 of 479)

CACOPHONY – Speed Metal Symphony

May 10, 2023 /

Back in the mists of time these guys were breaking ground with this type of music after Satriani and Vai paved the way for guitar widdle fests like this. They found the perfect home for their music with Mike Varney’s Shrapnel records, who loved all things guitar and heavy. Of course you can just flip through YouTube and see a million wannabes wildling away in their bedrooms claiming to be the next best thing, but nearly all of them are doing nothing original and basically doing keep fit in guitar.

It takes skill to put that into a song or an instrumental that people actually want to hear. This is quite a challenging record with vibes ranging from out and out thrash ( Where My Fortune Lies), to near classical tunes (The Ninja), or breathtaking pieces like the title track and my favourite Speed Metal Symphony. The playing is outstanding and the dexterity and strength to play like that is amazing.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

STEELHEART – s/t

May 9, 2023 /

Right band, wrong time. By the time this album appeared in 90s the end was nigh for bands like this as the doom and depression of Seattle was banging on the door.  I remember seeing this album in bargain bins along with Tora Tora, Roxy Blue, Wildside, and a whole bunch of others. Now they go for big money! I’m giving the impression that this album isn’t that good. Well, that is definitely not the case as this is a definite 100% big hair rock banger.

Right from the get go with Love Ain’t Easy, this album rocks. Big fat riff with some killer guitar from Chris Risola and a hook so catchy you’ll be singing all day. Can’t Stop Me Lovin’ You is a monster tune and gets my vote for favourite track. Man that guy can play! Killer solo. The quality continues with Like Never Before, another sing-a-long banger with a massive chorus. The single I’ll Never Let You go follows and it reached #23 in the US, which I guess makes them a one hit wonder. Side 1 closes out with Everybody Loves Eileen, a fun mid tempo rocker with a nice simple riff and catchy hook.

Epic intro to Side 2 opener Sheila, with a huge sounding guitar for what is basically a simple, slow, groovin’ blues. Gimme Gimme is next up, a glam sleaze fest typical of the Sunset Trip vibe even though they are east coast boys. Rock N’ Roll, I Just Wanna is the speediest track on the album with yet another variation of “THAT” riff… and the solo is killer. Time for the mood killer next with the ballad She’s Gone. The guitar is killer but I just don’t like ballads. The album closes out with Down N’ Dirty and we are going out with a bang. A super fun song that hits the spot and you just have to sing along.

A great sounding album, definitely recommended.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

KEEL – The Final Frontier

May 8, 2023 /

This is album number three for the band that everyone loved to hate and it was also the highest charting album Keel had, peaking at #53. Again, this album was produced by Gene Simmons giving it that Kiss sound. I think the main reason that the hate comes their way is for the vocals of Mr. Keel himself, as they are not that great and very similar in each track.

Musically, they have their moments mainly due to the Marc Ferrari songs. Rock N’ Roll Animal sounds huge and I love the guitar sound, and even the vocal harmonies are cool. Raised On Rock was a single from the album and is a mildly entertaining chest thumper. The best song on the album is the only uptempo rocker on the record and the last track, No Pain No Gain. Great riff and groove and there definitely should have been more of these on the album.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACK N’ BLUE – Without Love

May 8, 2023 /

This is album number two from Portland’s hard rockin’ groovers. The first thing you notice when placing the needle on the record is how loud and in your face the production is. Bruce Fairbairn did a killer job that’s for sure.

The album blasts into gear with Rockin’ On Heaven’s Door, a track of two halves. The main groove is a hands in the hair stomper, then the tempo shifts gears into a hard rockin’ stomper. Killer tune! The title track follows and is co-written with Bryan Adams’ conspirator Jim Vallance and this has hit single written all over. A huge big sing-a-long party tune. Next up is Stop The Lightning. There is all sorts of studio wizardry at the intro before we settle into an AC/DC style riff, with the vocals and harmony sounding like prime time Kiss. Love the intro to Nature Of The Beach, such a great swing to the groove and the hook and chorus are huge. Miss Mystery is next up and it’s a decent enough tune but it’s not a single, not like the title track should have been.

Side 2 opens up with Swing Time, this was also released as single and so it should have been. A superb kick ass rocker and my favourite track on the album. This song is all that was great about American hard rock at this time. Bombastic Plastic is just a simple riff played over a loud stomping groove and is what I call a rock night special. Loud guitars burst into life on We Got The Fire with a kick ass up tempo groove. These guys know how to write a catchy rock song! The groove slows right down for Strange Things at the intro and the verse, but explodes into life at the chorus. The album closes out with Two Wrongs Don’t Make It Love, an old school dirty blues but with lots of sleaze and huge guitars.

Another band that should have been huge but Lady Luck was not on their side.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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