THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 235 of 493)

TYRON PACE – Long Live Metal

November 23, 2022 /

This was Primal Fear’s, Ralph Scheeper’s first band and this is their second release which came out in ’85, and it rips. I love this album. It’s for fans of old school classic metal.

The first track Shockwaves really pounds along. It has an almost thrash sound with killer guitars from Oliver Kauffman and Calo Rapallo, and that voice. It’s insane he outdoes Mr. Halford himself. Definitely my favourite track. Red Sweat is more of a classic heavy metal groove with dual guitars, but Priest are the template here only with a heavier twist. Play All Night is more of the same, a simple riff with a driving groove, a huge hook and chorus, plus a monster solo. Law And Order could have been on any Priest album, it’s that close. Wheels Of Love closes out Side 1 and what a ripper it is. Double kicks are giving it plenty and pounding hard.

Hot To Rock opens up Side 2 and this is the most commercial track yet. A great groove, a simple riff, and the cheesy “Long Live Metal” chorus. Wonderful! Shake Down follows and has the background groove that sounds like a steel mill pounding. Night Of The Wolves feels like an extra track from Screaming For Vengeance. Superb middle section! It does not let up in pace and groove as Raid The Victims just rips along, and the heavy crunch of the guitars doesn’t let up. The album closes out with Killers On The Highway and the initial main riff reminds me of Saxon, but the whole song feels like a beefed up old rock n’ roll tune. The best album that Judas Priest never made and a thoroughly enjoyable record.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

WHITESNAKE – Lovehunter

November 22, 2022 /

Long before Mr. Coverdale bought huge amounts of shares in various hair spray companies and sold his soul to a scantily clad lady on the hood of a car, Whitesanke were purveyors of the finest blues rock to be heard anywhere.

This is where I really started to pay attention to them, mainly due to the awesome Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues and the title track, which Cloverdale co-wrote with the delightful Bernie Marsden. And, let’s not forget the awesome Medicine Man. These two tracks alone are the very definition of what the real Whitesnake was all about. Superb hooks and melodies, coupled with simple grab you by the throat riffs, and a driving groove.

I know 1987 sold in its squillions but to me, this is the real Whitesnake and always will be. My favourite track is Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, it’s one of the best things they ever did. I know there’s not much chance of it ever happening, seeing as DC has blown out his voice, but I would like to see him team up with Bernie for a farewell album. One can dream.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PHANTOM BLUE – s/t

November 22, 2022 /

To all the guys out there who stayed away from female rock bands saying they couldn’t cut it; this one’s for you. Released back in ’89 and produced by Marty Friedman on the Roadrunner label, this is a metal tour de force. An awesome dual guitar attack with Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch, shredding with the best of them.

Going Mad blasts into your ears with double kicks and some serious shred guitar, just in case you were a doubting Thomas. Last Shot is more of a straight up hard rocker but with added killer solos. Why Call It Love is a huge power ballad, with the emphasis on the power. Frantic Zone follows and it does what it says: a frantic pounding double kick assault with matching riff, until the speed decreases for the song. Slow It Down closes out Side 1 with a very choppy, almost funk groove and riff. Gigi Hangach has one hell set of pipes and doesn’t hold back.

Side 2 kicks off with a Walking Away. A hard rock groover with added harmonies, as well as a sweeping solo. Nice harmony guitars at the intro to Never Too Late, a great four to the floor rocker. It has a superb solo in the breakdown and gets my vote for favourite track. Out Of Control closes out the album and again, the killer harmony guitars are so good.  There is so much going on with nice harmony guitars and vocals. There was another album in ’93 and an EP in ’98 but other than a live album, that was it. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MONTROSE – Mean

November 21, 2022 /

It’s quite hard to keep track of what Ronnie has released, especially as a timeline as he was jumping from Montrose to solo, to Gamma to solo, to Montrose, and all stops in between. This album came out in ’87 and it didn’t do that well sales-wise. I guess it sort of mirrors what was around at the time, as there is a strong LA rock vibe going down mixed in with Ronnie’s distinct tone.

Don’t Damage The Rock is a hard uptempo rocker to get things going, with some great guitar. Game Of Love has that slight sleaze vibe to it. Pass It On is a really cool track. A great old school mid-seventies riff and pounding groove, with some great guitar. Hard Headed Woman follows and it’s a big hair rock riff and groove that pounds along. Definitely my favourite track on the record. M For Machine feels like a Gamma tune, and I bet this was around for those sessions.

Side two kicks in with the hard rocking Ready Willing And Able, a nice chunky riff and an ear worm hook and chorus. Man of The Hour starts with a big fat riff, then we gallop along until the huge chorus hits with a great pounding groove behind it. Flesh And Blood is a slow plodding groover with a decent riff and nice solo. The album closes out with Stand, and it’s a power ballad of sorts but the solo is killer.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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