THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 181 of 479)

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – Alcohol Fueled Brutality

March 22, 2023 /

This is a reissue of a live album from 2000. I’m sure everyone is familiar with Zak’s homage to Black Sabbath that he’s been doing for nearly twenty five years, as well as playing with the Oz man himself. It’s really noticeable how d-tuned everything is on this album with a real sludgy tone.

I actually like BLS on the album as Zak has some killer riffs and grooves, but this album is all one paced doom. My favourite track is actually his version of No More Tears, where the doom vibe works really well. I think Zak reached his peak with BLS with Order Of The Black and the tracks Parade Of The Dead, and Godspeed Hellbound, but unfortunately there is no groove like that on this album. His guitar tone is killer at times, but a lot of the time it’s down in the sludge and apparently Limp Bizkit sucks dick.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

JOHN NORUM – Another Destination

March 21, 2023 /

This is solo album number three for the Europe axeman, and the sound is a lot more heavy and edgy this time around. He’s joined on vocals by Kelly Keeling who originally came to prominence singing with Baton Rouge on their debut, but has since seemed to have been the hired gun for everyone.

We get things under way with Inside, a kick ass melodic groover with a strong hook and chorus, and a very tasty riff. Resurrection Time is a whole different beast with a fat huge riff and a kick ass groove with an added killer solo. Superb track! Strange Days is next and it’s a cover of the Humble Pie tune. A slow, dark, heavy blues groove and Norum’s playing is just off the hook on this track, so much feel. Spirit World is up next and the vibe has taken a turn for the funk. Killer hook and chorus and that solo… damn! Shimmering Highs closes out Side 1 and the jaw hits the floor. A slow instrumental that builds, and builds, and it’s all guitar. Freakin’ Awesome! Definitely my favourite track!

Side 2 kicks off with an absolute face melter: Whose Side Are You On. The intro is killer and the groove and riff are superb. Next up is the Cream classic Sunshine Of Your Love. It’s a decent enough rendition, pretty close to the original until the solo then…BOOM! And, that ending is so heavy. Catalina Sunset is next up and John shows his chops on the acoustic with a nice chill out moment. Next up is Half Way Home, a kick ass uptempo rocker with yet another ripping solo. Next to last is Healing Rays. The song starts with some epic guitar and a killer off-tempo groove, and the guitar is off the charts. Onto the last track Jillanna, another acoustic piece. You know, I don’t mind a ballad if the guitar is playing the vocal melody and this is really cool.

If you’ve read a few of my reviews you will know by now that I am a guitar nut, and this album hits all my favourite spots all at the same time. Great record!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

ENUFF Z’NUFF – s/t

March 21, 2023 /

A band that had everyone falling over themselves after the release of this album, that seemed to just slowly disappear after the release of each following album. Which is amazing, seeing as they have never given up and to date have released seventeen studio albums.

This album first came out in ’89 just before the whole musical landscape changed, and the follow up came out in ’91 when no one seemed to care about melody and great songs anymore. I would say they have been heavily influenced by Cheap Trick and The Beatles because there are little references there in each song. Donnie and Chip have the knack of writing super catchy pop rock songs and every one of the songs here could have been released as a single.

I’m sure everyone is familiar with Fly High Michelle, a very sleazy glam groove that was the smash single from this record, but I really like New Thing. It was the lead off single and I think it’s a much more of a complete pop song. My favourite track is In The Groove; a huge sounding Friday night dirty party anthem.

I guess some bands are destined not to be the next big thing, which is a shame because this album wipes anything that Poison put out around this time but hey…that’s just my opinion.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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COHEED AND CAMBRIA – No World For Tomorrow

March 20, 2023 /

Now here is a band that take the whole conceptual album thing to the max. This album is a companion piece to The Armory Wars, which was transcribed into comic books and even a novel called Year Of The Black Rainbow. As you would expect the music is vast and challenging, as are the books. Prog metal is an amazing genre that encapsulates a wide variety of styles.

No World For Tomorrow is a very heavy riff laden beast, whereas The Hound (Of Blood And Rank) is a very groovy almost power pop slice of awesome, and it’s my favourite track. Feathers starts with a very simple chord riff with the melody and hook being very accessible. The Running Free is up next and the chugga guitar sounds huge, and I’m loving the main vocal melody. I suppose Mother Superior could be pigeon holed as a ballad, great harmonies though. Gravemakers  &

Gunslingers has an old school metal groove to the music but the vocals are very modern sounding, especially with the squeezing as many words as possible into a melody line thing. Justice In Murder follows and the main riff is NWOBHM as right out of 1981. The third and final side is given up to the epic The End Complete, which is split into five parts and is the huge centrepiece of the whole album. A fitting end to an amazing album. Only gripe is Side 4 being an etched side.

An amazing band with a huge imagination.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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