THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 375 of 493)

KARNIVOOL – Sound Awake

October 7, 2021 /

There is a thriving Prog metal scene in the land of Oz, with the likes of Circles, Twelve Foot Ninja, and Karnivool. Australia is leading the way. The band have been around in various forms since their school days in ’97, but their first record was released in 2005 with Themata, and this album was released 4 years later in 2009. Purveyors of the finest odd time signatures and fat chunky grooves mixed with great melodies, Karnivool are a killer band.

Tool are the first band that springs to mind as the first track, Simple Boy, kicks in – but that’s mainly down to the vocal style. New Day has Radiohead vibes that adds to the already eclectic mix and has more of a stripped down sound. Set Fire To The Hive is one of my favourite tracks, and I think it was a single in Australia. I love the groove and rhythm to this track.

It’s been 8 years since we have had new music from the band. I understand COVID has screwed things up for a lot of bands, but 8 tears is a long time. I hope they release something soon as the musical landscape is a better for them in it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VOLA – Inmazes

October 7, 2021 /

This is the album I first heard as samples through the band’s bandcamp page. I am beyond stoked that these wondrous sounds made it onto vinyl (as well as the band’s other two albums). I am not sure my mere words can do justice to the awesome sounds within these grooves. It’s a perfect balance between sometime delicate beautiful melodies with crushing djent riffage, and superb arrangements with really weird time signatures. The band have been around in different guises since 2006, but I have only been aware since 2015 when this album came to light. Ever present through everything is guitarist and vocalist, Asger Mygind, who in my mind is a genius. I think no one sounds like these guys, they make such a beautiful racket.

The opening track, The Same War, should have you drooling if you like technical Prog metal. The monster riff and groove have my brain scrambling to count the beat. The second track, The Stray Skies, has the most evil D-tuned riff known to man, but with such a delicate melody and chorus it’s a total contradiction that works so well. Owls is just nuts with the bass sound from the deep, and that manic melodic vocal over the top – it’s not like anything I have heard. Superb track! Perhaps the heaviest track in the record follows with Your Mind Is A Helpless Dreamer. The relentless deep heavy groove just pounds until a beautiful melody rises from the onslaught. This album is so good! This one definitely falls in the category of every home should have one.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

INXS – Kick

October 6, 2021 /

I think everyone and his dog will have heard this album at some point, or a least the raft of singles that were released from it. This is the 30th anniversary half speed master Abbey Road edition, and it sounds incredible.

For such an amazing groundbreaking and successful record, it amazes me that the album opens with such an average track with Guns In The Sky. The only thing I like about the track is how much Michael Hutchence sounds like Mick Jagger. Other than that track, this album is a pop/rock masterpiece. The band took advantage of all tools and gadgets at their disposal to make this a work of sonic genius. Tracks like New Sensation, Devil Inside, and Need You Tonight are superb songs and these are what cemented the bands legacy.

Unfortunately, Hutchence is no longer with us and so this classic sound went with him. If you can get a copy of this version I highly recommend it as it sounds superb.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

EXTREME – Three Sides To Every Story

October 6, 2021 /

This is the band’s third album and the one that followed the multi platinum smash, Pornograffiti. It was always going to be a difficult record to make as the record company wanted a carbon copy repeat, but the band wanted to try to expand their sound. The result is something in the middle of the two.

I really like this record as it’s not as immediate as the previous two, and does remind me somewhat of Queen. This is a concept album and is split into three parts: Yours, Mine and The Truth. Yours is more of a hard rock affair, a bit like the first two records in style and sound. Mine is more experimental in style and sound. For example, keyboards are more prevalent on this part. If you have only heard the CD version, you won’t have heard Don’t Leave Me Alone as it was left off the CD as it would not fit time wise. The Truth is one song in three parts and it’s almost Prog rock in its arrangement.

There are two stone cold classics on this album, namely opener Warheads, which is the Extreme everybody knows, and the absolute monster Cupid’s Dead, which carries on the funk vibe from the previous album and is always killer live. In hindsight, this was a very brave move from the band especially as grunge was swallowing all around it. They could easily have done Porno 2 to bend over for the record company, but they didn’t. Believe it or not, the band have only made 5 albums in total throughout their career. I for one wish they would have been more prolific, but alas not.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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