THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music (Page 222 of 454)

SHOGUN – 31 Days

December 23, 2022 /

Just like NWOBHM, where bands came crawling out of the woodwork as they saw it as an opportunity to gain some recognition, the late eighties saw a raft of melodic rock bands appear in the UK and record labels were signing them with just hearing a couple of tunes. Shogun were one of those bands, and were even signed to Jet records for this album.

The band are okay musically, but the weak link is vocalist Alan Marsh. When you are playing music where the emphasis is on the hook and melodies, vocals needs to be your strongest component. Don’t get me wrong, he is not a terrible singer, it’s just his voice doesn’t fit this style.

A lot of the tunes sound like eighties US tv show music. Listen to You Are What You Are, to hear I mean. I would say my favourite track is the opening track, Cloak And Dagger as it has a decent punch and groove.

5.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GOJIRA – L’Enfant Sauvage

December 22, 2022 /

This is album #5 from France’s finest tech metal groovers. This band are just off the charts heavy and soooo good!

The second track and the title track is everything I love about this band. Huge massive ripping riffage, insane grooves and beats, and killer weird interludes. I want to say they are the future of metal, but they have been around for over twenty years doing this. Liquid Fire has such a wonderful beast of a groove and sounds so simple in its execution, but it’s huge!!! Favourite track is Mouth Of Kala because of its relentless pounding of the double kick groove that leads into a slow grinding beast of a tune. They have their “beautiful moments” like Born In Winter, a toned down gem of a tune.

I know this type of sound is not for everyone and this album is blisteringly heavy at times, but the groove and tone just grabs me.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

HOUSE OF LORDS – Sahara

December 22, 2022 /

This is the second album from these keyboard-led melodic rockers, and it was released back in 1990. The only member that survives today from this line up is vocalist James Christian. Produced by Andy Johns, this album has a killer crisp sound, and your stereo will love you for playing this album.

The album kicks off with Shool and a big keys intro that drops into a great melodic rocker. Chains Of Love has a big hook and chorus with a short snappy solo. The list of guests on this album is huge, and exactly what they do other than bv’s I’m not sure. Steve Winwood’s Can’t Find My Home, the song he wrote for Blind Faith, is next and I think this was released as a single. It’s nearly the same take as the original, at least until the band explodes in. Heart On The Line is up next and is my favourite track on the album. Written by Rick Neilson, it has a huge Cheap Trick vibe and really pounds along. Laydown Staydown closes out Side 1. It’s a classic melodic rock stomper that reminds me a tad of Foreigner.

Pounding drums announce the arrival of Side 2 opener and the title track, Sahara. It has a massive grandiose intro that leads into a classic hair metal anthem. It Ain’t Love is next and it’s super power balladarama, and that is closely followed by soft balladarama Remember My Name, and don’t forget to get those lighters fuelled up. American Babylon is a return to normal service, a kick ass rocker with a big fat riff, just how we like em’. The album closes out with Kiss Of Fire, an over the top rocker, by far the heaviest tune on the album. An improvement on its predecessor but it loses some appreciation for the extra some ballad.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GODSTICKS – Faced With Rage

December 21, 2022 /

This is the welsh Prog metallers’ fourth studio album, released in 2017, and it’s the one I love the most. Huge deep riffs and epic grooves, and I love Darren Charles’ vocal phrasing. The Prog metal world is a very crowded place and you have to be pretty amazing for people to take notice. I think Godsticks have quite a unique sound and vibe, and this album just tweaks my groove muscle in all the right ways.

Open Your Eyes just blows me away, the choppy ascending riff and groove before the softer vocal melody kicks in is just wonderful, and is one of my favourite tracks the band have done. There are beautiful softer moments like Revere where an element of funk is even added to the mix. Superb band and album, I suggest this is an album you should acquire.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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