THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 173 of 479)

BLACK SABBATH – Sabotage

April 15, 2023 /

There’s a reason that these early Sabbath records are rightfully called classics boys and girls, because not only are they genre defining, they were genre inventing. Sure, we can argue about who first coined the term “heavy metal” and who had louder guitars, blah blah blah, but all the metal bands around today would not be anything if it wasn’t for Sabbath.

This was Black Sabbath’s fifth album, and we are only at 1973. They crammed so much into a short space of time, it’s insane to think of that happening today. If this album only had Symptom Of The Universe it would still be a classic. Such a killer riff and groove, Ozzy’s deranged wailing vocal, plus the crazy instrumental, and then the trippy outro, make this high on the list of everyone’s favourite rock and metal tunes.

Megalomania has to be one of the longest songs the band did. It goes from tripped out hippy psych fest, to killer max riffing Sabbath classic. This album doesn’t seem to high up on peoples’ fave Sabbath albums, but I really like it as there is so much going on outside of the usual Sabbath heavy riffing.

Of course, I’m going with Symptom Of The Universe as my favourite track because that riff is undeniable, but I could easily have gone for Thrill Of It All.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION – High In The Saddle

April 14, 2023 /

The Discogs randomizer seems to be throwing up a lot of these dirty, alcohol-soaked, stripped back rock albums just lately, and I am a partial to some kick ass rock n’ roll.

This is Texas Hippie Coalition’s sixth album, released back in 2019. Led by the gravelly vocal tones of Big Dad Rich this album was produced Uber producer Bob Marlette, and I have to say the sound is clear and HUGE!

The kick-ass single Moonshine opens up the album in fine style with a nice n’ dirty riff and groove. Also a single release was next track, Dirty Finger. It has the same kind of vibe and feel, but with added slide geetar! Bring It Baby starts with a killer, dirty, slow, almost hip hop groove then Big Dad Rich opens up that voice as he screams the hook line. Ride Or Die is (I think) an homage to fallen friends and the music has a fitting melancholy vibe. Side 1 ends with Tongue Like A Devil, a simple slowed down heavy groover.

Why Aren’t You Listening is the opening track on Side 2. The hook and chorus are huge, and maybe this should have been a single, it also sneaks the favourite track award for me. Great tune! Stevie Nicks is a huge, monster, southern fried, rifftastic beast. Bullseye had me singing Blaze Of Glory, and there are parts that are very similar, but Rich’s vocals are totally different. Tell It From The Ground has a low down, evil sounding riff and groove to match. The album closes out with Blue Lights On, a nifty little ditty about the boys in blue.

This is the bands first album on a major label, and hopefully there are many more to come.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ROYAL HUNT – Fear

April 13, 2023 /

This is Royal Hunt’s fifth album and the first to feature John West on vocals, it was released back in ’99. Keyboardist and leader Andre Anderson wrote everything on the album, and there is a big keyboard presence as there is with the majority of the band’s albums. It’s only seven tracks, but boy do they fit a lot into them.

The album kicks off with the title track and a majestic intro sequence that leads into an epic tune. West has such control over that huge voice, from soft cleans to max overdrive. Killer opening! Faces Of War follows, it opens with a great bass line with some killer keyboard and guitar riffage, and double kicks pounding underneath, definitely my favourite. It has huge classical vibes, and that word epic comes to mind again. Cold City Lights is the most accessible track on the album. It’s a very commercial sounding melody with a killer hook and chorus.

Side 2 kicks in with the fat huge riff of Lies and the accompanying classical intro to go with it. That choppy guitar in the verse gives me huge Saga vibes, but this is euro metal at its finest. Monster ballad time next with Follow Me, emphasis on the monster. Voices follows and again, it’s an another huge majestic intro with the keys set to orchestra mode. Killer harmonies! Onto the last track: Sea Of Time. Superb echo and repeat guitar intro, I love the vocal harmonies.

Really good record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SAIGON KICK – Water

April 12, 2023 /

This is Saigon Kick’s third album, and if you believe some of the media reviews, this was the runt of the family. Over the three albums the band initially released, they changed a lot. Starting off within the “hair metal” brigade, then evolved into something a whole lot more. By the time this album came out they were a three piece with Jason Bieler being the main focus on guitar and vocals.

One Step Closer opens up the album and it’s clear the sound has progressed with a riff and groove reminiscent of Kings X. Superb tune! A cover of Bowie’s Space Oddity follows, and I have to say it’s one of the better versions I have heard. Jason’s voice just fits perfectly. The title track follows and is such a beautiful piece set to a sparse programmed instrumentation. Torture has a delicious, deep, heavy sounding riff with such killer melodic vocals, and a ripping solo. Fields Of Rape has a slow, almost country vibe to parts of the tune, with a short but awesome solo. We end Side 1 with I Love You which starts a bit like a child’s lullaby and is a love song to someone most dear.

Sgt Steve opens up Side 2 and I guess by design, it feels like the Beatles. My Hearts starts with a pounding native beat, with a fat guitar riff and vocal melody over the top. A very striking sound. On And On has a great funky groove to the main hook, with hints of the Police in there as well. The Way is an oh so slow, almost blues vibe, and it feels like The Black Keys before they were a thing. Sentimental Girl is a fun hard rock ragtime tune that feels a lot like Queen at their most adventurous. Close To You, again has those native drums and a vocal that sounds like The Cult. When You Were Mine  follows and those Sgt Pepper vibes are strong with a huge sounding string section. The album closes out with Reprise, a short book ending piece.

If you follow Jason Bieler on the web, it’s obvious that this was his baby as everything he has done after this has been a take off point. This is not an immediate catch on record, it takes time to sink in. Great band!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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