THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 253 of 493)

IT BITES – The Big Lad In The Windmill

September 14, 2022 /

The general public were given a bit of a false impression of It Bites with the success of their second single Calling All The Heroes. With it being such a huge hit they were mistaken for a pop band of the time and they were lumped in with all the other frilly shirts and haircuts. In fact, they were anything but a pop band. They were the next in a long line of great Prog bands that Britain did so well. Yes, they had a great sense of melody and boy could they write a catchy hook and chorus, but then again so could Genesis.

The first track I Got You Eating Out Of My Hand lays it all in the table with the very catchy hook and chorus, and then the middle section goes all Prog with hints of fusion. It’s a great track! Just to show you how record companies have no idea how to market the bands they have, Virgin released All In Red as the lead single. Now, it’s a great song but was it a lead single? The answer is no it wasn’t, and it bombed. It’s a good thing they got it right with Calling All The Heroes or else It Bites could have died before they started.

Everything sort of revolved around frontman and guitarist Francis Dunnery, who has such a distinctive voice and was such a presence live, plus he is great guitar player. Mixed in with their brand of quirky pop/prog fusion are some epic tracks like You’ll Never Go To Heaven, and my favourite tune Screaming On The Beaches. Which is a wonderful song with a great hook and a quirky groove, but the chorus is so good. They would strike gold with their next album Once Around The World, but this is a great stepping stone for that one.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

PRIMAL FEAR – New Religion

September 13, 2022 /

I guess they will forever be compared to Judas Priest. I do get that, especially with Ralf’s incredible screams and vocal style, but there is so much more to their sound. They consistently put out great records, and in mainland Europe and Scandinavia they are huge and put on killer shows.

This a very nice looking reissue of the 2007 album, and the onslaught starts with Sign Of Fear – Ralf’s voice is just insane. No one can sing like that. The song has a killer riff and grooves along at a great pace. Face The Emptiness has a lot more of a euro metal vibe to it (especially the hook and melody), and the drums are epic. Everytime It Rains is an epic romp with a vocal duet with Simone Simmons. The title track is next and starts with a fat huge riff with the double kicks pounding, and you can see all of the hands in the air for this one. Fighting The Darkness opens up with a solo operatic vocal from Ralf and is very Eurovision – you even get this as a bonus track complete with orchestra. The Darkness follows and is an instrumental that starts off very dramatic before lots of guitars kick in. Blood On Your Hands is up next and is my favourite track. It has a huge monster riff with a great groove and beat, and Ralf is giving it the beans.

This whole album feels very epic and conceptual, and that continues with The Curse Of Sharon, but the band don’t lose sight of the melody and the groove which makes each song as catchy as Covid. Too Much Time starts with an epic harmonized vocal before the pedal is put too firmly to the metal. Psycho starts with an evil choppy riff, and this just makes you want to nod that head and stamp your feet. The main album proper closes with The Man (That I Don’t Know) and this is the one track that screams Judas Priest. Great riff and hook.

I love this band and the whole production on this record is killer. If you like your metal with huge riffs and great vocals, then do your speakers a favour.

9.5/10 from Th Grooveman.

QUEEN – A Night At The Opera

September 13, 2022 /

This was the album that I started to loose interest, and was the last studio album I bought from Queen. They ceased to exists as a full on rock band after this album, and became a more commercial band with an eye firmly on the charts. With the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddy started to have a lot more control in the band. Sure, there were moments where they still showed what a killer rock band they were after this, but they were becoming rarer.

The album opens with Death On Two Legs, a classic old school Queen song where the rock and the melody sit side by side so well. Then the throw away, Lazing In A Sunday Afternoon, is followed by the awesome I’m In Love With My Car. It’s sung by Roger Taylor and this is my favourite track on the album. It has a great riff and groove, and he has such a killer voice. How can you pick that track when Bohemian Rhapsody closes out the album, Grooveman? I bought this album upon release when it came out, and that song has always been my favourite. There is no doubting Bohemian Rhapsody is a ground breaking tune, and deserves all the praise aimed its way.

The Prophets Song, which opens up Side 2, tries the multi layered harmonies used on Rhapsody, but does not work so well. There are other oddities on this album like 39, where Brian May sings. It’s just a good old country song which just baffles me. Seaside Rendezvous at least sees them rocking out somewhat. Go and listen to the Sheer Heart Attack album, and then play this. Which is better?

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SIX BY SIX – s/t

September 12, 2022 /

The randomizer is on the money with this one as it only arrived a couple of days ago. Music is a funny old business – I would never have guessed that that these three would ever have made an album together. For anyone unfamiliar, its Ian Crichton on guitar (from Saga), who is one of the most underrated players around, Nigel Glockler (from Saxon) on drums, and Robert Berry on keys bass and vocals. Robert has been around forever doing solo and various projects.

For a lover of guitar, this album is a pure joy as Ian really shows his chops all over it. Style wise, I would have to put it into the Prog box as that’s where my brain is telling it goes, but there are some great vocal melodies.

Opening track, Yearning To Fly, is a wondrous tune to get things going – a super cool riff and groove, and I really like Robert’s vocal. China has an almost funky riff and groove with a superb solo. Reason To Feel Calm Again is a modern Prog gem with hints of Peter Gabriel, but that guitar really brings the heavy at times. The Upside Down has a very eighties pop vibe to it, but a lot heavier, and I love the hook and melody. Casino actually reminds me of Ian’s band Saga – it’s that close. Live Forever has a short piano and Robert vocal to introduce Side 2.

The Last Words On Earth is almost a religious experience – especially with that church organ intro, and then Mr Crichton brings the heavy with awesome guitar sound. I’m not sure if any of you have heard of Frost (I have reviewed them on here), but I’m getting big Frost vibes on this track. Skyfall is next up and what a great riff and groove! This really shakes my tree. The Battle Of A Lifetime is next and this track has everything – so many changes and styles – an awesome tune!

They say “save the best till last”, and Save The Night is my favourite track on the album. What a freaking awesome riff that is. Definite Saga vibes from this one also. I really love this track – it’s superb and one of the best new songs I’ve heard this year. Quick mention to Nigel Glockler as it’s great to see him step out from the confines of Saxon and stretch himself – he is a killer drummer.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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