THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 392 of 491)

LAMB OF GOD – As The Palaces Burn

August 27, 2021 /

If there is one band that took the Pantera blueprint and ran with it, then it’s Lamb Of God. I’m not sure how this happened, but this is the only LOG album I have on vinyl. It was part of this years’ RSD releases, and was released as it celebrates its 21st birthday this year.

This is undoubtedly one of modern metal’s masterpieces. Not only is it crushingly heavy, but it grooves hard and there are riffs a plenty. If you are slightly put off by the growly vocals, then so be it, but you are are missing one hell of a metal album. Side 1 alone is just relentless as each track blends into the next. The double guitar attack of Mark Morton and Willie Adler is just epic, with chugga riff after chugga riff relentlessly pounding away at your brain. Drummer Chris Adler is not of this earth, as the speed at which he plays is insane. Produced by the genius that is Devin Townsend, he has managed to capture the sheer brutality of the band without losing any clarity, even at high volume.

I love all of this record but if I’m pushed for favourites I would go for For Your Malice, and the intensity of Blood Junkie. As I mentioned earlier, this is a classic and deservedly gets 10/10 from The Grooveman.

STONE FURY – Burns Like A Star

August 26, 2021 /

Everyone knows Lenny Wolf and Kingdom Come, but before that little adventure there were two albums by Stone Fury put together by Wolf and Bruce Gowdy. This album was received really well and the single, Break Down The Wall, did relatively well on the charts. Another album, Let Them Talk, was released and disappeared without trace.

It’s pretty standard melodic hard rock territory that the band tread, but there are some really good stand out tracks. I Hate To Sleep Alone, which has a killer riff and groove, is high on my list, Don’t Tell Me Why, with its Foreigner Hot Blooded riff would have made a good single, and Tease, which is probably the stand out track on the album as they try to do something a little different which I really like (the riff isn’t too shabby either). As you may know by reading lots of my ramblings, I am a sucker for a riff, and Hold It isn’t anything special, but I really love the riff.

After the failure of said second album, Mr. Wolf high tailed it back to Germany and would reappear in ’87 with Kingdom Come.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ALANIS MORISSETTE – Jagged Little Pill

August 26, 2021 /

A somewhat freak move by the randomizer today, sees the second review by an Ottawa native. For some reason, everyone seems to think that this is Alanis’s first album, but in reality it is her third – the first two being dance pop records. The departure in sound and style is incredible because this album is a nailed on bomb classic and has sold 33 million copies.

Produced by Glen Ballard, and she is joined by a who’s who of the alternative scene at the time, namely Flea, Dave Navarro, Matt Lang, and Benmont Tench, make this album a sonic masterpiece. But the undoubted star of the show is Alanis herself. Very personal first person lyrics, and the vocal delivery is just incredible. You Oughta Know is one of the best songs of the era, and her vocal delivery is so emotive and heartfelt that I never tire of hearing it. She also has the most beautifully soft voice in quieter numbers like Perfect, and Mary Jane, when the emotion and feel is still present in a more laid back manner. I guess it’s the sign of a successful album when every song feels like a personal friend. You feel like you know them that well without playing them yourself as you hear them wherever you go. This is a definite “every home should have one”.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

EXCITER – Heavy Metal Maniacs

August 25, 2021 /

Formed in’ 78, and hailing from my adopted home town of Ottawa, this is the band’s first full length album on Shrapnel. They also appeared on compilation US Metal Vol2. They were quite an influential band as they are considered to be one of the first speed metal bands. All the clichés are here that you would associate with metal bands of this period, but I think it’s part of the fun. You can hear that they desperately wanted to be a part of the embryonic thrash scene at the time. They are loads better than some of the second wave of NWOBHM bands that were so bad. These guys deserved their shot.

So the tracks that I think are a cut above are Mistress Of Evil, Under Attack, and Cry Of The Banshee. As with most bands that didn’t quite make the big time, they have had their share of line up changes and drama. They no longer have any original members, as John Ricci quit in 2018. If you are a collector of early thrash albums, then this should be in your collection.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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