THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 412 of 493)

VOLA – Witness

July 12, 2021 /

Vola are another band I discovered whilst late night Bandcamp surfing. They had just put up digital tracks from their first album (which I devoured eagerly), and when they made the album available as a physical product by making it available on CD, I invested in that as well. The lovely people at Mascot Records also thought the band were amazing as they snapped them up to a deal. This is the third album for the group that we have here today. While they were heavily influenced by the djenty sounds earlier on, they have expanded that sound more and added beauty and melody to the heaviness – and even pop moments – and that makes this band one of the most unique bands around today in the Prog-metal sphere.

The opening track, Straight Lines, has that incredible heaviness and groove that made me fall in love with them – a killer opening track. Head Mounted Sideways is just insanely good, and the low end groove makes your internal organs dance with joy as the vocal pop melody short circuits your brain as it struggles to fit the two together. This is just a monster of a track!!! The beauty of 24 Light Years is next, and the ethereal vocal sits over the very busy drum groove. You feel as though this is the soundtrack to some dystopian space movie until the more normal choppy Prog metal chords kick in. These Black Claws brings to a close this side of awesomeness, and again we are going in an different direction. The riff is so heavy it will crash through your floor, then there is a rap section with a guest spot from rapper Shamen, and then it’s back to riff and groove heaven. Another freaking awesome track.

Over to Side 2 we go with Freak, and band leader Asher Mygind shows the beauty and melody in his songwriting as the heaviness takes a backseat to a more traditional Prog feel. Napalm gets us back to combining the beauty and the melody with a heavy choppy riff and groove, which is a definite signature sound for the band. Future Bird actually reminds me of Steven Wilson with that light ethereal texture to the vocals and the ambient background electronics. Stone Leader Falling Down is an anti-Trump song, at least that’s what I get from the lyrics, and the anger in the music does reflect that. The riff and groove are very choppy, djenty, and heavy. The album closes out with Inside Your Fur and it’s the Vola signature melody that ends proceedings.

I admit to being biased as I love this band, but this is a great record. If you are interested in this type of music, you should definitely BUY THIS RECORD!!!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

WINGER – s/t

July 12, 2021 /

It was always a sense of annoyance for me that Winger were held in such derision by metal fans, it’s as though they were responsible for all that was bad about late eighties rock and metal. I’m sure a lot of this has to do with videos of Large Oilrig throwing darts at a picture of Kip Winger while Metallica were recording the Black album and muttering obscenities about the band. The truth is, that this album is a great album that is well produced, well played, and well written, and Ulrich was just being his usual egotistical self.

The band did not just appear from nowhere as they had been around the scene with bands like Alice Cooper, Dixie Dregs, and Aldo Nova to name a few, and they were great musicians. Opening track, Madalaine, is a great melodic rock track with a great chorus and melody. Hungry is, again, a great track with emphasis on the melody and the hook. Seventeen is a killer track with a great riff and a superb melody and chorus. It’s a bit like déjà vu as this band can sure write a rock tune, of that there is no doubt. The obligatory ballad is next with Without The Night, but it has a great solo from Reb Beach. It has to be mentioned that there were four singles released from this album in the US, and the album was certified platinum – so I guess they were doing something right. A very slick version of Purple Haze close out Side 1 and is a good attempt at adding something different to an all time classic.

State Of Emergency opens up Side 2 and is the most outright pop track on the album – it sounds very eighties. Time To Surrender follows and the opening riff is very Dokken in its execution (Reb Beach would actually play guitar in Dokken for a brief period). The middle eight is awesome, and is the heaviest sounding track on the album. Poison Angel is the up-tempo party rock track on the album, and grooves along nicely with some killer guitar. The very VH sounding Hangin’ On is next, and again it’s all about the melody and chorus. These guys have melody oozing through their veins and make it look so easy to write tracks like this. Headed For A Heartbreak was the last single released from the record, and is the big production track of the album. It’s a power ballad but not as we know it Jim. There is a bonus track on this Friday Music version of the album, Higher And Higher. This track appeared on the CD version and it has been added here. It is a nice rockin’ track with plenty of guitar to close out the album.

So contrary to what Large Oilrig thinks, this is a great late eighties rock record and is a worthy addition to any rockers collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MAGNUM – II

July 10, 2021 /

In 1979, when every band was hardening up there sound to take advantage of the burgeoning NWOBHM scene that was exploding in the UK, good old Magnum stuck to their guns and made a super slick pomp rock follow up to Kingdom Of Madness. Considered a bit of a flop at the time, it failed to chart both for the album and the two singles that were released from it: Changes, and Foolish Heart.

I caught them live at the time supporting UFO, and they came across a lot heavier in the live setting. Obviously heavily influenced by the likes of Styx, they were a breath of fresh air at the time as they were different to all around them – they were a welcome change. The stand out tracks on the album are the Prog pomp madness of The Battle, which showcases Bob Catley’s distinct vocal style and Tony Clarkin’s riffs beef up the track, Reborn, which if you closed your eyes you think it was Styx playing in your room, and Firebird, which has that Jethro Tull quality about. Of course the band would have success with the two albums that followed this: Chase The Dragon, and Vigilante. Magnum are a very British band and a bit of a national treasure.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DAVID LEE ROTH – Eat ‘Em And Smile

July 10, 2021 /

When DLR left Van Halen, I was crushed. How could the best band in the world have so much turmoil to destroy the thing I loved most? There were all sorts of rumours doing the rounds at the time, but the biggest one of them all was that Dave was going to make a movie, and transition from rock star to movie star. When it was announced that Dave was going to release his first solo album, (Crazy From The Heat was an EP), I was intrigued – to say the least – especially when I knew the line up of the band.

Dave was out to kill and prove a point. Steve Val on guitar was an amazing choice because he was the big hotshot guitar slinger of the time. Billy Sheehan on bass was another amazing choice as he was another superb player, and session drummer, Gregg Bissonette, completed the line up. Then I heard the opening track, Yankee Rose, and I knew this was going to be a killer record. It’s so over the top and was a direct FU to the Van Halen guys. Shyboy was Hot For Teacher on acid with some killer playing. I’m Easy showed Dave’s love of crooner show tunes and had the big production to make them pop. Ladies Night In Buffalo was another inspired choice with the change of groove and vibe. Goin’ Crazy, which was the title of the EP, showed how this band could write great pop songs.

Tobacco Road opens up Side 2 and is a killer rendition of this classic by The Nashville Teens, thanks in part to some great guitar from Vai. Elephant Gun is all about Vai, and if there is one track that sums up this new line up best, it’s this. Everything is over the top with Vai, and Sheehan is ripping up a storm. Big Trouble is another step away from the norm for Dave, with a funky groove and a rap lyric. This is the hidden gem on the album with a superb solo from Vai. The funk continues with the riff to Bump And Grind, and it reminds me of VH with the harmony vocals. That’s Life closes out the record and the love for the big show tunes is on show again. You have to admit that Dave does these so well.

Compare this to what Van Halen put out with 5150, and you have to agree that 5150 was a tad underwhelming. Although there was some great playing on the album, it just sounded like another corporate rock record – that edge had gone that made them special. Everyone says Dave can’t sing, and Sam The Sham is a better vocalist, but I can tell you this – no way could Sam sing Dave’s tunes and do them justice. DLR was the best front man in Rock, period. I’m pleased to say I got to witness that a few times.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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