THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl of the day (Page 11 of 449)

SLAUGHTER – The Wild Life

October 1, 2024 /

Contrary to popular belief, this type of metal was not down and out in the early nineties. This album was released in ’92 and reached number 8 in the US charts. Considering all the plaid clothes bands that were around, that’s not too shabby. If you would like an OG copy of this album it will set you back well over $100, but if you’re lucky you may still find one of these excellent reissues done by Kiss My Wax, who have done a superb job because this sounds incredible.

Most people seem to like the first album better, but this wipes  the floor with it. Great songs that are well played, with some killer guitar from Tim Kelly who sadly is no longer with us. Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum are a dream team of songwriters who not only write everything on here but have been involved in writing songs for countless others.

Reach For The Sky, Out For love, and The Wild Life…what a 1,2,3 that is to kick off a record, every one is a banger. Two hit singles Days Gone By and Real Love got tons of airplay. They also write a mean album track. Times They Change goes through a few changes and tempos, and is anything but a “hair band” tune. If I’m pushed, my favourite sound is the title track The Wild Life, a monster tune that has everything a killer rock song should have.

Great record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ACCEPT – Rise Of Chaos

October 1, 2024 /

Another Church Of Vinyl limited edition with Accept’s Rise Of Chaos, from 2017. I’ve noticed a lot of online comments lately that are ripping into Wolf Hoffman and his “version” of Accept, saying it no longer sounds like the band and all sorts of other weird remarks. But I know the internet is full of angry keyboard warriors just waiting to rip on anything. Anyhoo, I like how Accept sound without Udo. In fact, I think they are better.

The Andy Sneap production is great, giving so much power to the guitars without overpowering the mix. Wolf Hoffman knows that great metal music has to groove with beats and riffs to match, and this whole album does that from front to back. I think Marc Tornillo is the perfect voice to front that.

Tough to pick a favourite tune as it’s all killer, but for a change I’m going to pick two. The title track is just freakin’ awesome with superb old school chugga riffs a plenty and a matching heavy groove. I also love the old school Accept vibe of Analog Man. It’s a mid tempo groover that is very reminiscent of Judas Priest circa 1980.

Don’t believe all the internet trolls, Accept make great records and this is definitely one of them.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

OVERKILL – Immortalis

September 23, 2024 /

Another day, and another Overkill album to invade my day’s listening. This time it’s Immortalis from 2007, which was studio album number 14, and this version is a limited press from Church of Vinyl.

Devils In The Mist opens up the album and thrashes straight all over your face. What It Takes follows and this is my favourite tune. Killer riff and groove, prime time Overkill that will have you bouncing instantly. Play loud for max effect! Skull And Bones follows that groovefest with more chunk and a killer death growl vocal from Randy Blyth, and an epic ending. Classic thrash intro and groove to Shadow Of A Doubt with some killer riffage. Hellish Pride brings Side 1 to an end with a slower choppy riff and groove.

Walk Through Fire kicks off Side 2 with an AC/DC style riff, given the Overkill beefed up chunk fest. I love the intro and groove to Head On. There is almost a hint of funk to the main riff and that shifting of gears into a faster groove is killer. Max speed and max chugga’s are reapplied for Charlie Get Your Gun. Hell Is follows and has a monster intro and is very non-thrash but very metal until the explosion that you know is coming explodes into life. The album closes out with Overkill V…The Brand. An evil sounding single bass note rings out leading to staccato chugs and into max double kick thrash.

Great record by a great band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MR. BIG – Ten

September 23, 2024 /

So this is it, the final album… or as Anthrax would say…Over Finished Done Gone OUT! Well, I hope that’s the case, as we all know farewells don’t seem to last too long in the world of rock n’ roll.

The songwriting seems to be an even split between Eric Martin and Paul Gilbert this time around. Some songs they co-write, and some are single efforts. I tend to favour the ones that Paul has a hand in as there is a lot more going on musically. Eric’s songs are a lot more simple and to the point. They could be Eric Martin solo efforts, as the band identity fades. Whereas, on Good Luck Trying (my favourite tune) which opens up the album, has a very busy blues arrangement that they do so well and is a trademark Mr/ Big groover.

Other high points for me are What Were You Thinking (another blues based old time rock n’ roll groover), Up On You (which is a fun mid tempo rocker), and the close out track 8 Days On The Road (which PG sings and is a cover of the Fogahat tune also done by Aretha Franklin).

If this was your last album you’d want to go out on a bang, right? Instead, it sort of goes out on a squelch. It’s a solid record but not a great one.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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