THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 271 of 491)

BURNING RAIN – Face The Music

July 12, 2022 /

The band originally put out their first two albums in Japan in ’99 and 2000. Until Frontiers came along and do what they do well, by resurrecting bands of the melodic rock genre and getting them to record new albums. This is somewhat forced, as  a lot of these bands would never get back together under their own steam. I thought the first two albums were awesome, so I was really pleased that Doug and Keith started recording again.

This is the band’s fourth album released on Frontiers, in 2019. Superb opening track with Doug giving it plenty on the guitar, and a nice uptempo beat. Lorelei is a slower track with a distorted riff and has a killer solo. Nasty Hustle is as the title suggests: a very sleazy LA style rocker. An absolute monster of a riff opens up Midnight Train, and this track just swings. Shelter starts with an acoustic blues vibe until the power gets turned on. Face The Music has another big evil riff with that hint of sleaze. Beautiful Road sounds like Guns N’ Roses until Keith’s voice kicks in. Hit And Run is pure distorted blues, then the switch is flicked and dirty sleazy rifforama takes over. If It’s Love is a blues ballad with a monster solo from Doug. Some mean slide playing at the intro to Hideaway. Save the best till last as they say, and Since I’m Loving You does that. Wild guitar intro leads into a great swinging riff and groove. This album is definitely more sleazy and blues than previous efforts, but I like it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

TRIUMPH – Allied Forces

July 11, 2022 /

It was 1980 and with the release of album number five, Triumph were cruising.

This was the second album of a run of four that gave the band great success, especially in North America. Some of the band’s best tunes are on this record: Magic Power, Allied Forces, Fight The Good Fight, and Ordinary Man all became killer live songs. Recorded at Metal Works studios (which was set up by drummer Gil Moore I think), this is my favourite Triumph album and Ordinary Man is my favourite track. The band were really good at doing these big build up tracks that started slow, adding power and dynamics as the track progressed, and Ordinary Man was the best.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DEREK SHERINIAN – Oceana

July 11, 2022 /

I’m a huge admirer of Derek Sherinian, and the first time he appeared on my radar was when he joined Dream Theater (DT) after the departure of Kevin Moore. Falling Into Infinity is still one of my favourite DT albums. Of course, he is back with Mike Portnoy now in Sons Of Apollo, which sees a return of both of them to a more progressive metal vibe. I love instrumental albums and Derek’s solo and Planet X projects are always killer, as he gets some serious players to get his vision down.

On this album he is joined on guitar by Steve Lukather, Steve Stevens, Tony MacAlpine, Doug Aldrich, and Joe Bonamassa; also an awesome rhythm section of Simon Phillips on drums, and Jimmy Johnson and Tony Franklin on bass. The first two tracks, Five Elements and Mercury 7, occupy jazz fusion territory often seeing Derek dip into some killer jazz soloing. Mercury 7 really gets the tempo driving. Mullholland is a very groovy west coast piece featuring the amazing Steve Lukather, such a cool vibe on this track. Euphoria, again, has Mr Lukather on guitar with the groove and tempo really slowed down into a cool spacey slow funk, and Steve really gives it the beans. Ghost Runner closes out Side 1 with Steve Stevens trading speedy licks with Derek all through this four to the floor beast. Stunning side of music.

Side 2 kicks off with El Camino Diablo. Doug Aldrich is on guitar on this track and it has a groove very similar to Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein; a very cool track. Jo Bo is up next with I Heard That; it has a Jeff Beck Wired vibe and groove. Steve Lukather returns with Seven Sins, and what seems like 3 different grooves at the same time, it also has a great middle section. The album closes out with the title track and Steve Stevens putting down some killer licks over a slow beat and groove. I love albums like this and Derek has made quite a few killer albums in his career and long may he do so.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DISNEYLAND AFTER DARK – No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims

July 9, 2022 /

This is the band’s third album and I think the last to use the full name, as they were threatened with a law suit by Disney if they didn’t change it. I remember a lot of reviewers at the time not knowing how to pigeonhole them as they didn’t quite sit perfectly in those little boxes that music papers love to put bands in. There is a big sleazy LA influence in a lot of what they do, but there is that underlying indie/ Sisters Of Mercy vibe going in as well.

Opening track has that AC/DC riff going on, then that very indie picked guitar part kicks in with a foot firmly in both camps. Jihad is pure sleazy groovin’ rock n’ roll – a great wake up tune. Point Of View reminds me a bit of Oz rockers Midnight Oil. Rim Of Hell starts with the stripped down simple riff that is so infectious and just gets louder and dirtier. ZCMI is peddle to the metal punk rock n ‘roll. True Believer gives Rose Tattoo a run for their money in the barroom rock n’ roll arena. Girl Nation ironically enough reminds a bit of Horse Nation by the Cult. Lords Of The Atlas is my least favourite track on the album as it doesn’t do a whole bunch. Overmuch is a dirty beast of a groover with great riff. Love the riff and groove to Siamese Twin, just a great rock n’ roll tune. Wild Talk has such a simple riff, and I love the hook. The album closes out with Ill Will which is just two minutes of angst and noise. The cover is the version before the law suit so it has the full name. This is just a great fun record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑