THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 292 of 485)

VANDENBERG – Heading For A Storm

May 6, 2022 /

This is the follow up release to their hugely successful self titled first album. It’s easy to see why old Cover-version stole him to be part of the Whitesnake set up, as Adrian sure knew how to write a hook and melody. This album is not as hard hitting as the first. The aim here was to consolidate and to make inroads into the US, so the songs were aimed in that direction. Unfortunately, the sales did not improve much and the single, Friday Night, only made it to number 29 on the Billboard chart.

Unusually, this album seems to be loaded up with the better songs on Side 2. This Is War is my choice as best track on the album, as it’s the most uptempo track. I’m On Fire is a typical Kiss style stomper of the period, and the title track is a close second for best track. If Side 1 was better, this would have been a killer album. I don’t play this album a lot and I’d forgotten what a great player Adrian is.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – Worship Music

May 5, 2022 /

There is something about Anthrax and the way they write tunes. They never forget that fans have to connect with the music, and that they should make them move – Anthrax always have that swing and groove to their music.

This album was released 8 years after its predecessor, and saw the return of Joey Belladonna on vocals. I do like the John Bush albums, but Anthrax with Joey is where it’s at for me. This was also the final album to feature Rob Caggiano on guitar before jumping ship to join Volbeat. You could be a cynic a say this was done only for money and for the profile lift of doing the Big 4 events.

I think this is a great comeback album for Joey, and there isn’t a bad tune on the whole album. Standout tracks are The Devil You Know, which has a superb hook and chorus and it riffs hard. Fight Em Till You Can’t which is pure old school Anthrax, where the thrash is still alive and well mixed with a killer riff and groove. In The End has to be one of the best things they have done, it has an epic build up and the middle is just huge! I defy you not to bounce to this one, and I love the way the song titles have been merged into the lyrics of Judas Priest.

This album sits loud and proud with classic Anthrax albums, and if you’re a fan, why don’t you own this already?

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BILLION DOLLAR BABIES – Battle Axe

May 5, 2022 /

When Alice Cooper went from being Alice Cooper the Band to Alice Cooper the person, the band was jettisoned at the same time. So the members, well Dennis Dunaway, Neil Smith, and Michael Bruce, formed their own band called Billion Dollar Babies after Alice Cooper’s successful album of the same name. No confusion there then! They recruited vocalist Mike Marconi who actually sounds like Vincent (sorry Alice).

You would think when the putting all their eggs in one basket like this, that the album would be killer? Apart from one song, Ego Mania (which is a great track), the album sounds very dated, and it’s like what Alice Cooper were doing five years earlier. It’s not a bad album, it’s just ok. Other than the aforementioned track, nothing jumps out and grabs you.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BANG TANGO – Psycho Cafe

May 4, 2022 /

At the end of the eighties, rock bands had basically forgotten what music was all about, and image had become more important than content. Hence the oncoming of Grunge with a return to the basics, as kids could not identify with what was being fed to them.

Hidden in amongst all the glam with no substance, were a bunch of bands that were doing great rock n roll and trying things a little differently. Bang Tango’s follow up to this album, Dancing On Coals, is a killer record where they pushed the envelope. So what about this album? How does it stack up? Well sure, they have the image (although not as overtly over the top as others), but the tunes are where it’s at.

Attack Of Life has an almost Zeppelin vibe to the sleazed out grooves. Someone Like You shows that the band could write a catchy hook and chorus – with an added bonus of some great guitar. Wrap My Wings is a sleazed and grooved up Tom Waits style barroom rocker. I love the bass line to the intro of Breaking Up A Heart Of Stone, and the vocal is very Billy Idol. Side 1 closes out with Shotgun Man, and whereas I like the riff, I’m not too keen of the vocal on this one.

Side 2 opens up with Don’t Stop Now, which has a nice descending chord pattern – this track is very Hollywood. Love Injection mixes the sleaze with the funk, and it works really well. It’s “let’s please the record company” time next with the ballad, Just For You. The best track on the album is next with  Do What You’re Told, which starts with a killer funky bass and guitar groove. If any of you have heard the Electric Boys, you’ll know where this song is going. The album closes out with Sweet Little Razor and sees the band doing their best Guns N Roses impression.

It’s a decent enough record, but if I were to buy only on Bang Tango album it would be Dancing On Coals.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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