THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl collection (Page 15 of 449)

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS – Evolution

September 13, 2024 /

Sometimes even with all the music that surrounds us and the million ways to access it, things still creep under the radar that you should pick up on. Now, I’m embarrassed to say that I only came across these guys earlier this year and they are fellow countrymen of mine, and they have been around since 2009. They fit into the Shinedown-Alterbridge groove, and maybe a tad heavier to boot.

This is their last effort that came out in 2019 and sonically, it’s super crisp and clear and really packs a punch. The focus is all about the stunning vocals of Kobra Paige and the heavy riff groove fest of guitarist Jasio Kulakowski. This is a very modern sounding metal album, but at all times is a very accessible and commercial sounding record.

The track I heard that dragged me in was the title track, Evolution. Great vocal melody with a killer hook and chorus, driven along by a powerful groove and serious low end chunk. That’s not my favourite however, as Side 2 opener Circus has a really cool twisted horror movie vibe, riff and groove to match with Kobra giving it the full beans on vocals.

Great band and great record. I think it’s time to pay a visit to the back catalogue.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

HITTEN – Twist Of Fate

September 13, 2024 /

This is a reissue of Hitten’s third album by High Roller Records that originally came out in 2018. I came across Hitten in one of my down the rabbit hole searches on bandcamp where I lietened to the album that actually came out after this: Triumph & Tragedy. The first thing that grabbed me was the excellent sound and production. If you go back further to the band’s early releases, they pay homage to NWOBHM and obviously use that as a reference.

As they have progressed, the sound has changed to a more US vibe with a lot more melody and harmony, especially in the vocals, although still retaining that metallic edge. That is probably down to the change in vocalist to Alexx Panza, whose style is more in this vein. Though, on tracks like Evil Within, this is pure unadulterated 80’s metal but with a modern production and sound, and this is definitely my favourite tune. Stellar double kicks with max riffage, but that middle eight is just epic with a killer breakdown and solo. The title track is another monster tune with a killer riff and groove, and you are flooded with memories of times gone by as not many modern metal bands make music like this anymore. In The Heat Of The Night feels like Dokken, with more of that US vibe I mentioned earlier.

Great band that have gone from strength to strength.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

TWO BIT THIEF – Another Sad Story In The Big City

September 10, 2024 /

Now, you’d be forgiven if you just looked at the cover and thought that these guys would be a stripped back barroom band, a bit like the Dogs DAmour or Quireboys. Well, that shows you how image is deceiving because Two Bit Theif are more of a hybrid of LA Guns, Bang Tango, and Circus of Power. They are an altogether more hard rockin’ beast.

This is their first album, that came out in ’90. They would record two more before disappearing around ’96. This album was released on Combat, which is more of an out and out metal label so it’s a bit weird to see a glam sleaze band on it, but the band do touch a lot of bases on this record. There is one thrash glam hybrid song, Broke Again that Overkill would have been proud of.

It’s the more hard rockin’ tunes that get my attention such as Love Hate, City Boy, Crime, a belting version of Rose Tattoo’s Remedy, and especially Hard Times which is my favourite song. There is an almost punk rock version of Flosam Prison Blues and a punk/metal crossover tune called Modern Revolution just to confuse the listener a little more. That’s maybe why they struggled for an audience.

They should have stuck to the harder glam sound, as that’s what they do best.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

HEAVENS GATE – In Control

September 10, 2024 /

This is the German band’s first album released in ’89. Well, technically it’s their second album as they released an album in ’84, but they were called Steeltower back then. Following in the footsteps of fellow German outfits like Helloween and Running Wild, Heavens Gate offer up some great euro power metal. I mean, they all stole it from Judas Priest but each band added their own little twist.

I love old school metal like this, so it ticks all the boxes for me. Opening track, In Control is a full on power metal onslaught and it’s my favourite tune. Fast riffing and double kicks all the way. Turn It Down is a tribute to metal fans everywhere, “if you are made of metal, so raise your fist and yell,” I mean, even Manowar would be proud. Surrender turns the tempo back to Priest levels of riffage with a suitable anthemic chorus. Hot Fever closes out Side 1 and it’s a classic mid temp metal stomper.

Tyrants opens up the second side with a full double kick assault, and you have to keep checking the cover to make sure this is not some long lost Priest album. Path Of Glory takes the listener into battle in some medieval battlefield. Shadows is a slower plodder that builds and builds both with drama, volume, and power. The album closes out with a cover of the Joni Mitchell song This Flight Tonight, although I’m sure it’s the Nazareth version they have copied here.

Just a fun listen.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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