THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 277 of 486)

TESTAMENT – Titans Of Creation

June 11, 2022 /

I have mentioned before that Testament should have been in the big four – at the expense of Slayer. They had the tunes and Slayer just had the image. This is the band’s 13th album released in 2020, and it has a very old sounding vibe to it. It’s not trying to be all modern metal, just good old thrash with plenty of groove and killer solos. They have one of the genre’s best guitar players in Alex Skolnick, and he rips it up all over the record. Gene Hoglan is the drummer on this album, and he has to be a machine with some of the beats he lays down here.

There is not a breath to be had with first three tracks that take up Side 1, Children Of The Next Level, WWIII, and Dream Deceiver – all are killer tunes with epic riffs and grooves. Night Of The Witch has such a wicked beat that I’m sure Hoglen is about to explode. The intro to City Of Angels is very dramatic, before we settle down to old school thrash groove-age. Killer guitar intro to Ishtar’s Gate, which is one of my favourites on the album. Big hats off to Chuck Billy whose vocals are on point throughout and sounds as good as ever. I’m a big sucker for chugga riffs, and The Healers hits the spot perfectly. Curse Of Osiris is fast – even by Testament’s standards. Woah boy! Code Of Hammurabi gets my vote for best track as it has a killer speed metal riff and groove that Megadeth could only dream of.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CIRCUS OF POWER – s/t

June 11, 2022 /

This is the band’s first album released in ’88, and I guess you can file these guys under biker rock – well, that’s the image they give out in the album photos, and sonically it is very stripped down straight up barroom rock n roll.

The first track, Motor, gives you another clue or is it about a lady friend? It’s a great little tune with a nice sleazy groove. White Trash Queen is more of the same with a slight funky groove. Vocalist, Alex Mitchell, has that Jim Morrison thing down pretty good, and Call Of The Wild has that Doors thing going on – albeit with a heavier groove. Quite dark subject matter for next track, Needles, which starts off real slow before normal sleaze fest returns. Side 1 closes out with In The Wind, and it’s a sleaze anthem with not a bad hook.

Side 2 kicks off with Heart Attack with a stock AC/DC riff and uptempo beat, and it’s another ode to his err…lady. Crazy is up next with a very simple riff and slow groove. It’s my least favourite on the album as it doesn’t do a whole lot. Letters Home has a great uptempo groove with a hint of country thrown into the sleaze mix. Backseat Mama is the best track on the album. It rocks along at a decent pace and the riff is really cool. The album closes out with Machine, where Alex Mitchell proclaims he is our war machine. I’m sure Gene Simmons will sue him over that. Definitely not gonna change the world, but if you like the sleazier side of town, then this could be for you.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM – 662

June 10, 2022 /

You don’t get more blues than Kingfish – it’s deep in his soul. He is from Clarksdale Mississippi, right at the crossroads. This is his 2nd and latest album. Not only is he a killer guitar player, but he has such a warm tone to his voice. This album will appeal to the whole blues community as we have more traditional arrangements alongside some modern heavy blues – with hints of RnB and funk.

One of my favourite tracks is the slow groove of Another Life Goes By. Lyrically, it has a very strong message, mixed with a super cool groove and some great clean guitar. I’m a sucker for a good shuffle, and My Bad is a seriously killer tune. He is the king of the clean tone, and album closer Something In The Dirt is as traditional as it gets – the guitar sounds just superb. It’s great to see young blues guys breaking through.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

NIGHT RANGER – Big Life

June 10, 2022 /

Album number four in the band’s catalogue, and they were on a roll having sold 10 million records up till now – the record company loved them. They even put the band with hotshot producer, David Foster, to produce and co-write the soundtrack to the film, The Secret Of My Success. At this point, they had an embarrassment of riches in the band with two main vocalists in drummer Kelly Keagy and bassist Jack Blades, and two great guitar players in Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson.

The album starts with a bang with Big Life, and it’s the only track where Brad Gillis gets a writing credit – it’s no coincidence it’s the most rockin’ track on the album. Basically this is an aor/melodic rock fans wet dream. The songs are all high on melody, and the hook and chorus mean everything. Occasionally the guitars get a look in like on Carry On where the main riff is a beast, but on the whole it’s a very polished record and what could be described as corporate rock.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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