THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 470 of 491)

UNEVEN STRUCTURE – Februus

February 11, 2021 /

The word epic, often used by myself whilst doing these reviews, does not even come close in describing this record of gargantuan awesomeness. I came across these guys by fluke whilst surfing around the tinterweb. I came across British label Basick Records website and all matter of djenty goodness was to be found. The jewel in the crown was this. Uneven Structure are from France, and are purveyors of the finest tech metal/math metal/djent or whatever you want to call it – I don’t care what it is if it’s this good.

Awaken instantly removes your brain and gives it a good kicking with its supreme heaviness, before settling into some melodic goodness, and then the middle section with major off time grooves. BOOM!!! Track two, Frost, kicks major posterior, but with lots of melody, atmos, and yes, even more djenty goodness. Vocalist Matthieu Romarin is just incredible the way he switches from the deepest growls to the most melodic of vocals. The pace does not let up with Hail – again some serious off time grooves and epic vocals. The whole band are just amazing, superb musicians all round. Emmersion announces its arrival as if I have been transported into 2001: A Space Odyssey. Normality resumes with track five, Buds, which is an atmospheric slow builder with a killer vocal and maximum djentyness. Next up is Awe, which just wants to melt your face off with its heaviness. The drumming is just off the charts with some serious beats being laid down by Christian Schreil. Awe flows into Quittance with more polyrhythmic goodness. Limbo is a spacey loop that connects into Plenitude, which is just drum rhythms played until the guitars join with the same groove for 4 minutes until the vocals arrive. Epic in it’s simplicity! Which leads us to the final track, Finale, which has a huge cinematic sound – a fitting end to the album.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best albums of its genre and a must have for anyone who like this type of metal. It comes with a Grooveman guarantee.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

IRON MAIDEN – s/t

February 10, 2021 /

If anybody asks me to describe the NWOBHM, I will always tell them listen to this album. It has the rawness and energy that I associate with that period. Just to put this out there, I prefer Maiden with Dianno and not Brucie. When Dickinson joined, they lost that edge and rawness and became polished and a money making machine – which is where Smallwood was aiming them.

Maiden were a combination of classic rock of the time, and the punk movement, which Dianno was a big fan of. Other than a couple of EPs, and the legendary Soundhouse Tapes, this is Maiden’s debut. Every band and his dog would have this as their template of their idea of metal for the next 10 years. It’s hard to describe to people that this type of music didn’t exist before this. Sure Priest were doing their brand of metal, but it wasn’t as raw and hard hitting as this.

Running Free was the first track I heard, and it blew me away with the energy. Other than Motörhead, they were the first to add speed elements to the music like in Phantom Of The Opera. It was off at a gallop and had differing sections to add the tempo changes, which also was a first, the style of which Steve Harris had borrowed from Prog rock bands. We also got the introduction of metal instrumental pieces like Transylvania, which bands like Dream Theater would expand to the max years later. This song alone encapsulates the Maiden sound musically more than any other, as they would revisit the gallop format numerous times throughout their career.

No breakdown of songs here as it speaks for itself. You can keep your Powerslaves and Number Of The Beasts, the first two albums were as good as it got for me and all metal fans should own them both. Another ground zero album.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BETH HART – War In My Mind

February 10, 2021 /

I’m assuming that most people would have heard the wonderful Beth Hart by now, but if you haven’t then you are truly missing out on one of the best female vocalists of all time. She first came to the public’s attention through an appearance on the American talent show, Star Search, which she won back in ’93. She has suffered though her addictions and bi-polar disorder, and she freely admits the addictions nearly killed her. So with that in mind, this is her ninth studio solo release, which sees her delving deep inside herself for inspiration.

Bad Woman Blues starts things off and immediately you are confronted with that voice. What power, control and range she has. Fantastic song! War In My Mind is next, which slows down to blues territory and is, I presume, an autobiographical piece. Without Words In The Way is almost slow old school jazz and is just beautiful. Flip over to Side 2 and we have Let It Grow, which has an almost gospel feel – another moving piece with an amazing vocal. Try A Little Harder starts with a funky groove and a fast paced vocal, and reminds of Elton in his seventies period – another great song. Side 2 closes with the heartfelt Sister Dear, an ode to her sister.

Side 3 begins with the up tempo Latin flavoured Spanish Lullabies, which flows into Rub Me For Luck – a powerful ballad which again shows what an amazing range Beth has. Sugar Shack ends Side 3, although a good song, it’s the weakest song so far. Over to Side 4 we go with Woman Down, which has an incredible vocal that captures the dark lyrics perfectly. Thankfully, a very uplifting song is next, I Need A Hero finishes the album and has just Beth and a piano. Just beautiful.

So that’s it and it is definitely the most personal album she has done – it has all the feels for sure. People always do the obvious comparisons with Janice Joplin, but she is way better than that. Beth has the range and control which Janice never had, and she also has soul. If you get the opportunity to see her live, do it, she will blow you away. Do yourself a favour and add this to you collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SAGA – Heads or Tails

February 9, 2021 /

Saga are Canada’s best kept secret. Other than Germany, they were virtually unknown outside their own country, which has always amazed me. One of the reasons is that they are quite hard to categorize. Is it Prog Rock? Pomp? New Wave? Who knows?! Anyhoo, they hail from Oakville in Ontario, which is basically a suberb of “Tronner “.

First track in is Flyer – a great song with a great chorus, great melody, and some killer guitar courtesy of Ian Crichton, the band’s secret weapon. It’s Crichton that drew my attention to the band. I caught a live show on TV and was blown away by how he played. Catwalk is next and again a killer tune with some amazing guitar. These are two amazing tracks to open an album, that’s for sure. The Sound of Strangers is next up, with an off-groove, and it has some great interplay between Jim Gilmour on keys, and Crichton’s guitar. A very Styx-esque beginning to The Writing, which is an ok song that is lifted with some great playing. Side closer, Intermission, an odd song that feels as though it should have been on a Tears For Fears album.

Side 2 begins with one of the bands more famous tunes, Social Orphan, a decent tune with a big chorus, and again, some great musical interplay. The Vendetta starts with an overload of keys, and sounds very of it’s time – but is saved by a ripping solo. Scratching The Surface, with the robotic keys intro, is next and if I’m honest it is a bit meh! The Pitchman closes things out, and thankfully is a kick ass tune to end things on a high. Plenty of keys and melody, and most important of all, more ripping guitar. There is an epic ending to this song that is worth buying the album alone.

If you are anyway interested (as I am) in great guitar players, then you should definitely check out Saga and the amazing Ian Crichton.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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