THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 1 of 468)

THRESHOLD – Psychedelicatessen

March 2, 2025 / / 0 Comments

It’s nice to see the old Threshold albums getting a release on vinyl because they were only released on CD originally. I’m amazed that the band are still going because they have had more line up changes and bad luck than is feasibly possible.

This album originally came out in ’94, just when the whole Prog metal thing was blossoming on the back of DT’s success. Threshold have a lot more layered vocal harmonies than DT and more basic metal guitar riffs. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just how my brain processes that information.

In fact, I think this is a wonderful record. I love those metal chugga riffs that are the building blocks for most of the tracks. Saying that, my favourite tune is the 10 minute Prog epic, Into The light. It starts a lot slower and delicate before the heavy kicks in, and the build and groove are so good. You even get four bonus tracks, which is way better than a dreaded etched side.

Well done Nuclear Blast for doing a great job on the pressing.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BANGALORE CHOIR – On Target

March 2, 2025 / / 0 Comments

I was listening to a blog from Dan (@vinylrecordsoftheday), about how we heap praise on records “that should have been huge” but we are actually looking back with rose tinted glasses on a time that has passed that we love so much. Now, I’m guilty of that. I was thinking of ways to not use that phrase so much when describing a killer record that may have been overlooked when this absolute gem popped up.   

Now, if there was ever a record that the phrase “shoulda, coulda, woulda” applies to, this is it. Originally released in ’92 on Giant records right at the height of grunge, everything was against this record, and kudos for the label releasing it. This is one of the best melodic rock records you will hear.

Every song is a gem and you will be singing along like a crazy person whilst you do the ironing and other daily chores. So many killer tracks here it’s really hard to pick a favourite but pick I must, and Doin’ The Dance is today’s choice. A superb, slightly funky groove with an awesome hook and chorus. I love David Reece’s voice and he was too good for Accept.

This is a hard one to find but I urge you to snag a copy ASAP.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GUS G – I Am The Fire

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

This is Gus’s first solo album, released back in 2014. It’s not a total shred fest as you may think, but it is a really good melodic rock record. Yup, there are a couple of instrumental tracks like Vengeance and Terrified, which are both killer by the way, but strangely for me it’s the songs with vocals that I think are the strongest.

Opener My Will Be Done with Mats Leven on vocals is my favourite song on the record. It’s just a kick ass song all around with a killer hook and chorus. Of course, there are lots of great solos as you would expect from an awesome player like Gus, but I am blown away by how good a songwriter he is.

The only really heavy song on the record is the second instrumental song, Terrified with many notes flying through the speakers and matching double kicks a plenty. I’m a big fan of Mats Leven and he sings on four of the tracks here. I also love Jeff Scott Soto and he gets to add his voice to the song Summer Days. The one song I don’t care for too much is I Am The Fire, but on the whole a good record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DOMAIN – Crack In The Wall

February 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

They were originally called Kingdom (which they released their first album under) then they changed their name to Domain to avoid confusion with Kingdom Come.

This is the second album as Domain and what a fine hefty chunk of melodic metal it is. After this album, they would disappear for 10 years and resurface with more of a speed/power metal vibe. However, this is the band’s best effort.

Opening track Five Way Switch (favourite song) is a beast of a tune, with a killer riff and groove that will have you fist pumping the air. Hard Road To Midnight is a kick ass commercial melodic metal gem, very reminiscent of Judas Priest at their most radio friendly.

The title track slows the groove down to an anthemic hands in the air sing along rocker. They even get to sound like their German compatriots the Scorpions on Hold On Tomorrow. There are a couple of stinkers that sound as though they were scraping the barrel to fill up the space, but overall it’s a very enjoyable record.  

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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