THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl of the day (Page 64 of 450)

RAVEN – Life’s A Bitch

February 1, 2024 /

Amazingly enough, Raven are still out there making new music and playing live. I know there has been long gaps in between some of their record, but credit where is due.

This was album number six for them, which appeared in ’87. After their initial burst through the NWOBHM explosion in the early eighties and by the time they recorded this album, they were more popular in the US than back home in the UK. This album was even recorded in the US.

I think they were once described as “athletic thrash” and if you saw them live around this time you could see why, as they were one big swirling ball of energy. I really like this album as I think their songwriting reached its peek around this point.

Pick Your Window is my personal favourite track as it rips along at a gallop and it’s pure NWOBHM, except it’s supercharged. There are so many great tracks here: the title track just slays, as well as On The Wings Of An Angel which is old school thrash, and you can see how most of  the early thrash bands cited them as an influence.

A very enjoyable and fun record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN’S RISING FORCE – Marching Out

January 29, 2024 /

This was solo album number two for Yngwie, when he still believed in having a vocalist in the band. The vocalist in question here is Jeff Scott Soto, who after his dismissal from Yngwie’s tribe would set up Talisman with his band mate here, the amazing bassist Marcel Jacob and go on to have a great career.

There is no doubt that Yngwie is an incredible player with jaw dropping technique, but sometimes he seems to just be playing for himself and not the song. Case in point is Disciples Of Hell, which is a great song don’t get me wrong, but the solo is so fast it’s ahead of the groove of the song. The influence of early Rainbow is all over this record whether it be the groove of the music or Jeff’s vocals, you can’t escape it. I Am Viking is my favourite track it has all the Rainbowisms you could hope for with Yngwie playing his best solo.

I am a guitar nut so I love all the over the top widdlly dee histrionics, but I do admit it does affect the songs sometime. This actually came out in ‘85 which makes me feel old as I remember buying it the week of release.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

FATES WARNING – FWX

January 27, 2024 /

This is the Prog metal pioneers’ tenth album and was released back in 2004. Never happy with creating the same album twice, this album sees the band going with a more simple straightforward style. All the usual FWisms are there, they have just been dialled back somewhat.

I love Ray Adler’s voice and the way he interprets the lyrics, he is the highlight of this album. There are virtually no guitar solos on the album and that’s not a bad thing as you concentrate more on the moody vibe of the record. Having said that the fat huge guitar-driven riffs of Simple Human make it my favourite tune. Along with a that huge guitar, Mark Zonder is laying down the beats with just little pulse’s of the industrial vibes from previous efforts.

I read a few reviews of this album and it seems the FW faithful did not rate this too highly upon its release, but I don’t see why as it’s a great record and a further step in the progression in one of Prog Metal’s finest bands.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

OZRIC TENTACLES – At The Pongmasters Ball

January 27, 2024 /

This is a reissue of the 2002 live performance at Shepherds Bush Empire in London on Marillion’s Madfish label. This does seem odd, as you would expect to see them perform in some tent or outside at some hippy fest. It’s one thing to hear the Ozrics in the tranquility of your own home, but live is a whole different thing.

I guess they are the UK’s original Jam band, as they do go off in these psychedelic moments and come back seemingly on cue. I’m a huge fan of Ed Wynne’s guitar playing and there is lots of it to enjoy here. He does use a lot of effects to create these wonderful soundscapes and a beautiful wall of sound.

There are lots of cool things to delight your ears, one of which is how much they remind me of The Police. Yeah, I know that sounds a bit nuts but listen to Erpland with the groove and guitar sound and tell me that’s not the Police on exotic substances. The Ozrics’ whole vibe is all about the trippy keyboards and the groove as much as Ed’s guitar, which is featured to the extreme on The Throbbe, the close out piece which is my favourite.

It’s cool to see they are still making great music and I hope to catch them live again.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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