THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 366 of 493)

TESSERACT – Polaris

October 29, 2021 /

This is the third studio album by British tech metallers, Tesseract. This album saw the return of their original vocalist, Daniel Tompkins, who left the band after the first album. Although they started with all the djent bands, they have refined their sound which has made them quite a unique band. The low end is still a big feature, but now there are a lot more ambient and melodic sounds to the music. They are masters of odd time signatures (often multiple times within songs), this makes them a fantastic band to listen as the groove changes constantly.

The opening track, Dystopia, has a deliciously evil choppy groove with some serious low end riffing. Those time changes and off beat grooves will have your brain scrambling. Hexes starts with a very ambient intro, until the song builds with an epic choppy bass groove and a great vocal from Tompkins. Survival carries on where the previous song finished with that choppy bass pattern carrying the tune along. I bet the band were glad to have Dan back in the band as the light tones to his vocal style really make the music pop.

Over to Side 2 with Tourniquet, and this is a beautiful light (almost) ambient piece with a very delicate vocal, until the end of the song where the heavy low end returns. If I had to describe Tesseract’s sound, I would point everyone in the direction of the next track, Utopia. Everything about the band is here in this one song, the choppy bass heavy groove, the odd time beat with D-tuned guitars. and sprinklings of ambient keys. Phoenix closes out Side 2 and its all about the melody and harmonies for me. Great track!

Side 3 leads off with the lead off single from the album, Messenger, and it’s the heaviest piece so far and a nod to the style of their previous albums. Cages is the next to last track and the ambient soundscapes return, before the odd time meter kicks in with a superb bass line. Seven Names closes out the album as Side 4 is a dreaded etched side. The change to a more lighter shade to the band’s music serves them well as this a really good album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

OPETH – Garden Of The Titans (Live At Red Rocks Amphitheater)

October 28, 2021 /

Opeth are truly one of the best bands playing and recording today. They are not afraid to take risks and change their style. No matter what they do, it’s just superb.

Don’t get confused by the picture as this is not a four disc edition, just two separate copies with just one cover showing. I also have the Blu-Ray of this show and it’s really good. I was worried that the vinyl would not be as good sound wise, but they seem to have done a vinyl mix.

The band were touring on the back of the Sorceress album and that’s the track that’s opens up the show. It’s a killer track – the perfect mix of metal and Prog. Ghost Of Perdition from Ghost Reveries is up next and it’s one of my favourite Opeth tracks, and one where screams were still part of their musical landscape. Next up we go way back in the catalogue for Demon Of The Fall from My Arms Your Hearse. Epic track and I do miss the dynamic change in vocal with the screams. Back to Sorceress with Wilde Flowers, and you can see and hear the new Opeth and the direction they were moving in. Next up is In My Time Of Need from Deliverance, which I think is a beautiful piece. The Devils Orchard from the Heritage album is next and that is my favourite track from that album. It’s just superb and again showcases their new direction.

The only track played from Pale Communion is next with Cusp Of Eternity, and again it’s one of my favourite Opeth tracks. Everything about this track is just superb. A great melody and vocal from Mikael, and the music is epic. The only track from Watershed is next with the absolutely evil sounding Heir Apparent, and this track could be the basis for a horror movie of its own. Another Sorceress track Era follows, and it’s Prog Heaven as we are transported back to the mid-seventies – well that’s the vibe it gives off to me.

The concert and album closes out with the mighty Deliverance, and this is definitely a fan favourite – everyone goes bananas when the band play this. The band have made four live albums so far and you can go and pick your favourite era. This is a great representation of where the band are at now. I really love this album, but I am a huge Opeth fan.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MR. BIG – What If…

October 28, 2021 /

This is the is the band’s 7th album that was released in 2011. It was the last to feature original drummer, Pat Torpey, as a performing drummer as he was diagnosed with Parkinsons. He sadly succumbed to the disease in 2018.

There are not many bands that can do this type of rock today. Killer musicianship coupled with great songs seems to be in short supply as of late – well everywhere except Sweden. Any band that has Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert in it has to be killer right? This album just smokes right from the off with Undertow. Superb track with a killer melody and groove. American Beauty is Shyboy in disguise, with Paul Gilbert letting loose those killer licks. Eric Martin still looks 18 years old and he possesses one of the finest voices in rock, and Stranger In My Life is all about his voice and the melody. Nobody Left To Blame is a very busy track especially the bass line and groove – it’s just a superb track with an added bonus of a monster guitar solo. Still Ain’t Enough For Me is a straight up fast rock n roll song, where Billy and Paul trade off licks with each other. Side 1 closes out with Once Upon A Time which has a really dirty upbeat blues groove.

As Far As I Can See opens up Side 2 and it’s more of the same – just a great song with a killer groove and superb playing. And that’s how it goes for the rest of the record…This band do not make bad album, and this is such a good record deserving of a home in anyone’s collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

LEATHERWOLF – s/t

October 27, 2021 /

This is the band’s second album released in ’87. They were also the pioneers of the three guitar attack in metal, well at least that’s what it says in their bio. They were unusually signed to Island Records, who were not renowned for knowing how to market metal bands – Anthrax being the exception!

This is not a bad album to be honest. There’s plenty of widdly guitar, but unlike – say Yngwie, the songs are quite strong with great melodies and hooks. The album was produced by Kevin Beamish and sounds great. Superb guitar and drum sound make the album sound huge. Rise Or Fall and The Calling are great opening tracks, and they set the tone for the album. The intro of Share A Dream reminds me of Queensryche, especially with the dramatic vocal delivery of Michael Olivieri. Cry Out closes out Side 1, and I think this track alone shows why the band did never quite made it. Even though it’s great track, there is quite a lot going on in a somewhat straightforward tune. Although I do like tracks like this, I think people as whole seem to like their music easier to latch on to.

My favourite track on the album is the album closer, Rule The Night, which is a ripping track. Maybe they should have used this for a template for future endeavours.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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