THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music (Page 347 of 454)

OZZY OSBOURNE – Speak Of The Devil

September 10, 2021 /

You will not here Sabbath songs played better anywhere. This is in no small part due to the amazing guitar of Mr. Brad Gillis. Yep, that guy from Night Ranger. After Randy died, and after a few false starts, Brad was the guy that finished the Diary tour. On two nights at the Ritz in New York, Ozzy decided to play a best of Sabbath set and record it for posterity – and this ladies and germs is it. There was a big argument between Oz and Sabbath at the time, probably due to Sharon being Sharon, and this was Ozzy’s big FU to his previous band.

There is no point in me going through the songs, as everyone will have heard them countless times. All I will say is these are the best versions I have heard of these songs, as Gillis, Sarzo, and Aldridge give them a much need shot in the arm. Brad’s guitar is on the verge of feedback constantly, and the way he controls that whilst playing some killer leads is just awesome. He never overplays, it’s just what the songs need. A fantastic album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

LEE AARON – Metal Queen

September 10, 2021 /

This is the 2nd album from the Canadian songstress, and in my opinion, was the best female rock/metal album around at the time. Yes that includes Diro and Warlock. I think Lee has a better range to her voice, and the band she had around her were better. This is the RSD reissue in glorious shocking pink, and Unidisc have actually done a decent job on this one – unlike Whitesnake’s Live album where they omitted the second disc.

The title track opens the album and shows what a great voice she has – plus guitarist John Albini riffs hard. Lady Of The Darkest Night is more of a melodic rock track than metal, but the chorus and melody are cool – again, John Albini’s guitar shines through and he has a killer tone. Head Above Water is next and the opening riff is awesome. The melody and chorus is quite stock, but again, it’s the guitar that lifts the song. Got To Be The One is a generic power ballad, which as you would have picked up on if you have read previous reviews of mine, are not my favourite type of tune, but again a killer solo saves the day. Shake It Up closes out Side 1 and is a hair rock anthem type of tune.

Side 2 starts with Deceiver, and as with Metal Queen on Side 1, the metal side of Ms. Aaron comes out to play. Great song, big riff, rocking groove, huge guitars, and a killer vocal, it’s the best track on the album. Steal Away Your Love follows and this track would not be out of place on a Judas Priest album of the eighties. Great tune, and a killer guitar sound. The slow build of Hold Out is next up, and the band are trying something a little different with a cool quieter section that flows into the power chorus. Power ballad number two, Breakdown, follows with a Zeppelin style middle eight, and then we are onto the last track, We Will Be Rockin’. That’s just what it does – it’s a good old feel good rock song.

A great little album that sounds just as good today as it did then – mainly down to Lee’s vocals and John Albini’s killer guitar.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – Fistful Of Metal

September 9, 2021 /

M.E.T.A.L.

Released in ’84, this was the East Coast of the US’ turn to enter the Thrash arena. The only album to have the original line up, as the next album would see fan favourite Dan Lilker replaced by Frank Bello, and Neil Turbin replaced by Joey Belladonna. All original tunes, apart from a cover of I’m Eighteen by Alice Cooper.

You can hear the enthusiasm and energy coming through the speakers. This was their shot, and they weren’t gonna blow it. It’s a fun listen to hear it now as I haven’t played this in a while. Did Thrash get any better after ’86? I would say not. Deathrider, Metal Thrashing Mad, Soldiers Of Metal, and Howling Furies are genre defining tracks. The Thrax were consistently faster than everyone else at the time, but they always had that riff to drive the songs along. I forgot how much I enjoy this album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

WAYSTED – The Good The Bad The WAYSTED

September 9, 2021 /

This is technically the band’s third album – the second one was really an EP. Having released the first album, Vices on Chrysalis, as well as the Waysted EP, this album was released on the indie Music For Nations. Ironically, with the switch to a more cleaner polished sound after this album, and replacing their vocalist Fin with Danny Vaughan, they would be back on a major. This album, and Vices, are a lot more rock n roll with a dirtier sound. This is mainly due to the gravelly tones of Fins voice.

Lead off track, Hang ‘Em High, got the band a bit of attention upon release. It struts and swaggers along and has a killer riff from Tonka. Hi Ho My Baby would not have been out of place in the LA glam scene as it has that sleazy vibe to the beginning of the song, but the middle eight has a totally different feel with a great solo. The main single from the album was Heaven Tonight, and it would not have been out of place on a UFO album. Side 1 closer, Manuel, also has the UFO vibe in their mellower moments.

Dead On Your Legs opens up Side 2 and is the Stones on steroids. Fin does struggle with the higher register vocals, but he does sing the sleazier tunes better. Rolling Out The Dice returns us to UFO territory again. I get Pete was a part of that band forever, but I would have gone for a different approach. Land That’s Lost The Love is the most non UFO sounding track so far, and that’s down to the heavier groove and riff. Crazy Bout The Stuff follows and carries on from the previous song with a heavier groove. The album closes out with a rousing cover of Chuck Berry’s Around And Around.

An enjoyable record none the less, but I get the change in vocalist as Danny could sing the phone book and would kill it.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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