THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 225 of 493)

FASTWAY – s/t

December 16, 2022 /

It seemed to be a marriage made in the pub when Fast Eddie and Pete Way got together to form a band. By the time they went into the studio to record their first album, Pete Way had jumped ship the day he was supposed to be in the studio and the bass is played uncredited to a studio guy who was there on the day. Or so the story goes…

The album itself is a straight up no nonsense rock n’ roll record with an unknown Dave King on vocals, and ex-Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley joining Fast Eddie. Easy Lovin’ opens up the album and this was also released as a single; a cool rock n’ roll romp with a very catchy hook and chorus. Feel Me Touch Me is my favourite track. A great riff and solo, and Dave King’s vocals remind me of Blackie Lawless. Heft, which is a killer name for a tune, is a slow brooding groover. There is a slight Zeppelin groove to a lot of the album and We Become One is the most noticeable.

Say That You Will was the lead off track from the album, and it did well in the UK at least. A nice boogie groove and killer riff. I think a lot of people were expecting something a lot heavier from Eddie after Motörhead, but if you listen closely you can hear Eddie’s influence and tones in all of Motörhead’s work, they are just a lot louder. I have a soft spot for this record as it took a lot of balls for Eddie to leave the behemoth that was Motörhead at that time.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail To The Heroes

December 15, 2022 /

I’ll admit I’m not familiar with bands from India and I think, other than these guys, I only have one other record from an Indian band in my collection and that’s Skyharbor. I only came across this band from one of my late night internet surfing adventures. Girish And The Chronicles are more of a straight up hard rock band, reminding me of early Def Leppard before the fame with a slight harder edge.

Opening track Primeval Desire is one kick ass track with a great riff and groove, and superb vocals. Children Of The Night is even better and if this track came out in ’86 the band would be huge. Killer riff and solo! I’m Not The Devil has the best NWOBHM style riff you will ever here, albeit forty years later. Kick ass tune with a superb solo, it’s my favourite but I could have picked any other tune. Loves Damnation has one of those big hair LA riffs, but it’s that huge vocal that grabs you first. Monster tune! Clearing The Blur is the most commercial sounding track so far with big harmonies and vocals, and the solo is killer. Lovers Train closes out Side 1 and sees the softer side of the band, well at the beginning anyway, until the switch is flicked.

Rock And Roll Jack blasts open Side 2 with a killer riff and groove, and the vocals are just huge. Hail To The Heroes has that Def Leppard feel, with the riff anyway. The vocals from Girish are so powerful! Shamans Of Time is epic and the middle section is incredible. Killer guitar from Suraz Dun! Just when you thought they had delivered all the epic, The Heavens Crying kicks in. Coverdale in his prime was not this good. The album goes out with a total bang with Rock N’ Roll Fever. It has a huge riff and double kicks, and then some. Great tune and a great album. Dear Frontiers, can we have more of the original bands and less of the “projects,” please?

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

AXE – Nemesis

December 15, 2022 /

This is the band’s fourth album, released in ’83. They have had a revolving door of members, apart from the ever present Bobby Barth who would join Blackfoot in 2004. They were mainly known for a more melodic and softer approach to their music, but this album really rocks in that early eighties style.

Opening track Heat In The Street is a great kick ass tune with hints of classic Deep Purple in there, it’s definitely my favourite tune. Young Hearts follows and it’s a nice one. All Though The Night has a very simple riff that you will have heard countless times, but the beat and groove are just kick ass rock n’ roll. I Think You’ll Remember Tonight would have been a great single as it’s a very classy power ballad with a great solo. She’s Had The Power rocks in that late seventies way with a great hook and chorus. Side 1 closes out with Girls Girls Girls, and the main groove is a very dirty  biker rock n’ roll with an added Motown-style hook and chorus.

Eagle Flies Alone opens with a more familiar keyboard intro before the guitars kick in, and then the hook and chorus is very eighties and reminds me of tons of tunes. Keep Playing That Rock And Roll is the only cover on the album and is better than the original, it sounds very Bob Seger. Foolin’ Your Mama Again is pure AOR by numbers. It has plenty of keys and the trademark big hook and chorus. That vibe keeps going into Let The Music Come Back, which is a mirror image. The album ends with Masquerade, a track which doesn’t really get going. You feel as thought it’s about to explode but it never does. If you were to own just one Axe album then it should be this.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

INTERVALS – Circadian

December 14, 2022 /

This is the band’s fourth studio album, released in 2020. The band formed in Toronto in 2011. What started as a band is now a solo instrumental project, with guitarist Aaron Marshall having hired guns as band mates. Originally, the band were treading a path very similar to Periphery, who were flag bearers of the new djent wave of bands. I can still hear similarities in the rhythms. But now Aaron has taken an almost Joe Satriani style of playing melodies as leads for the main part of songs.

If you like modern, technical, progressive, instrumental, metal music then you will really dig this. I love the fact that the vocals are gone as the music can breath on its own. Stand out tracks are opener 5HTP which just smokes with stunning rhythms, grooves, and some killer guitar. I love the melody on Lock & Key with the added keys, and the grooves are so good. Favourite track is Signal Hill, a lot of different vibes and grooves with even a straight up 4-4 beat. The middle section even has a return to old djenty vibes. With all the changes, I am stunned Aaron is still around. But, the band are touring heavily in 2023 so if they are near you go and check them out.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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