THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: review (Page 3 of 410)

PLINI – Mirage

May 9, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This the latest five track EP from one of the most prolific musicians around today, Plini. There is such a thriving progressive music scene in Australia, I may just have to emigrate.

The word fusion gets thrown out whenever Plini releases any new music and with opener The Red Fox that is what immediately springs to my mind. There seem to be two differing time signatures going at once, with the bass and hi hat following one path and the kick and snare following the other, and Plini soars over the top. Beautiful piece!

Five Days Of Rain is a deceptively chill song that musically captures the title perfectly, with heavier bursts to describe the more stormy aspects. Very clever track! Still Life is another killer sonic masterpiece with an awesome groove that goes really low to wake up your internal organs with an added bonus of Tosin Abasi lending a solo.

Aqua Vista starts with that heavy low end bass and the guitar soundscape is sooo spacey. I love the guitar on this one and it is my favourite tune of the record. The EP comes to an end so quickly with Ember. There is quite an upbeat vibe to this piece with almost folk guitar runs played underneath that heavy groove.

I’m a massive lover of instrument music and when it’s played and written as well as this there is nothing better.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

VICIOUS RUMORS – Digital Dictator

May 7, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Having been existed since ’79, it wasn’t until ’85 that Vicious Rumors recorded their first album. This chunk of awesome was album number two for the band and came out in ’88 through good old Shrapnel, who at the time released all the ripping guitar metal music. I actually thought the band would break out of smallsville onto to a bigger stage, but sadly that did not happen. That double guitar onslaught of Geoff Thorpe and Mark McGee and the soaring vocals of Carl Albert should have been a home run.

This record was voted album of the year in a lot of metal magazines and they were hailed as the new power metal kings. They have been continuously releasing albums and are still going today, they just sort of slowly slipped down the ladder. Nevertheless, this is still one hell of a record with some epic guitar solos, crushing riffs, and high octane vocals.

Favourite tracks? Well, the title track is a bonafide speed metal classic, and the full on gallop of Worlds And Machines is top notch, but I’m going for the more classic sounding Towns On fire for top track. It has killer solos and a hook and chorus that is infectious.

If you’re a guitar freak then you really need this one. Great band and a great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GREAT WHITE – S/T

May 7, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Now, just to confuse people, this album has multiple covers. There is a plain black cover with the logo in white, and there is this one, with the band pictured in an alley. This was the only album Great White did for EMI, as they wear dropped after this.

I’m obviously in the minority as I like the heavier sound and vibe on this record compared to the blues groove they have got going later. Now, this has a decent Michael Wagener production with a very crisp sound and great separation, unlike some he has done. Out Of The Night has to be one of the heaviest tunes the band have done and it gets a big thumbs up from me, it’s my favourite tune. Killer tune!

Their version of The Who’s Substitute is pretty rockin; and the intro is soooo metal. The big production number of the album is Streetkiller, which has a Zeppelin-style intro before locking down into a solid riff heavy groove. The track Hold On got quite a bit of attention and airplay, being more commercial, and is the direction the band would choose to follow with subsequent releases.

Thoroughly enjoyable record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

UNCLE SAM – Letters From London

April 15, 2024 /

How would you describe what Uncle Sam sound like? I have read a few comments where people reckon they sound like Motorhead. Now, I sort of understand that, especially early Motorhead, but there are also elements of punk. So, if you put the punk attitude in a blender with Motorhead, a pinch of Hawkwind, and a twist of Sabbath you might be somewhere close. Noisenics was another phrase I saw mentioned about Uncle Sam and I would say that about sums them up.

Favourite tune? Well, I’m going for the close out track Lexington Blues which has a bit of a Dr. Feelgood-style R’n’B to it, that is until they get bored and then it’s a race to the finish.

If you’re into to early punk and raw rock n’ roll then this could be the record you’re looking for.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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