SILVERHEAD-SILVERHEAD-

Released in 1972 this outfit from England really proved that you can get away with attitude before raw talent. Frontman Michael Des Barres maybe not is to be mentioned as on of the greatest influences on the glam/rock/Heavy side of Music but he contributes in an asskicking way on this album.

A vulgure frontcover with bellbottom trousers that exceeds all normal proportions, this album out plays in some way the master himself, Marc Bolan. Glam or not is the question here. Strong musicians in guitarist Stevie Forest and Rod Rook Davies. Great bass playing by Nigel Harrison and as a luxury treat a great production by Martin Birch.

Whatabout the drummer,Pete Thompson?? The first thing that strikes you is the Heavy groove that he puts into the songs. A sort of delay on the beating that is really affectious. The great producing of the drums helps a lot to enjoy his playing. Any special tricks to bring back to the rehearsel room?? No!

But just get a grip of the feeling he delivers, this is really a 70´s record, fully overblown,wonderful!!

This is a partycracker album that deserves to be played loud and intense. There are good copies out there and some great reissues so don´t hesitate when you stumble upon it.Buy it!!

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

SILBERBART-4 TIMES SOUND RAZING-

Released in 1971 this is by comparison the most outtripped Heavy/hard/psych krautrock album of all time. Originated from Varel Germany the band was formed by Hajo Teschner, Peter Behrens and Werner Klug. This album has been a favourite amongs collectors for years and its impact on several German musicians is undeniable. The idea of putting a garden gnom on the cover just cements this record as a “fairies wear boots” type of record.

Hard driven blues and hard rock elements are the basics with spaced out guitar and instrumental mindF**k as great toping.

The production is near the timeperiod as could be without being all-together “oldfashion” Vocals are great, guitar sound is ok with a superb bass to ram it up.

What about the drummer, Peter Behrens?? You got to admire the focus he´s contributing with. Fast action, great delivery but without any special tricks to put in your handbag. Overall a great experience within the band but nothing more.

This is an Album that puts the name Krautrock as a standard in the Genre. If you´re in to this kind of style of Music, it´s a large piece of the Krautrocks foundation. This is a must have record in that sense.

If you´re a more melodic kind of musiclover it will take time to understand “wtf” is going on.

I can´t recommend you to get this record but it´s worth exploring, for the sake of how Krautrock should be and sound like. There´s no other album like this one out there.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

LUGNET-LUGNET-

Released in january 2016 this is a Swedish tour de force á la 70´s hard/Heavy/blues rock.

Originated from Tungelsta in Stockholm Sweden this is an excellent album for all you out there who never got over the loss of Rainbow or even early Whitesnake. As in one of the silverscreen pictures from Quentin Tarantino, the album cover suggest the calm before the storm and how true this is.

This is a fuel driven record that just brings every bit of nostalgia and sound production right. The vocals are up with the best, with a hard beaten mix of Tony Martin, David Coverdale and a hint of Graham Bonnett. The guitars are, as always when they come from Sweden, terrific. Twin guitar riffs mixed with raw chestpounding attitude. Marvelous!!  The producing lacks ..NOTHING!!! This is a 10/10 in that sense.

Whatabout the drummer, Fredrik Jansson???  In the Sleeve Picture he´s got the resemblence of an angry truckdriver who just lost his paycheck… He pushes the band foward with a furious drive, excellent delivery in faster tunes and clear as a bell striking. Impressive! On the bad side? His dynamics are a bit anxious in slower songs but nothing to worry about.

If you´re a sucker for 70´s rock this is a true goldfind. Plays as good in low as in high volume and a good mix of faster/slower material. If this album doesn´t make it i´ll eat my hat. Check out the video with Christina Lindberg below…cool stuff.. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD!!-GAME,SET AND MATCH-

STRIDER-EXPOSED-

Released early in 1973 this album puts a new definition to hard/heavy/blues rock! As the album could  make a review as a hardrock album this is not what the story reveals.

The style reminds of those in Free, Deep Purple and Humble pie but yet totally in a personal way. The Gritty vocal and the dynamics of this album gave Strider several opening slots for bigger acts such as Faces and Rory Gallagher. The bands breif career gave Strider a far more post-legacy than recognizion back in the day.

The album contains two Classic R&B songs and its fair to say that it is this album, of the two they made, you should require. Stoned out jams on guitar with an even producing, spice this album up and gives it a rightous place as a lost gem from ´73.

Whatabout the drummer???  Jimmy Hawkins doesn´t leave any special things for you to remember. Good solid playing with a bit of muffled sound to the production. By looking at the innersleeve picture you do have the expectation that he would have a little more attitude to bring to this record but sorry that´s not the case.

With the release of their next album, the band had reached their height. Rod Stewart grabbed guitar player, Gary Grainger before embarking on a solo career. The other members would start The Babys and go on to play with Roger Daltry and John Entwistle.

If you´re in to Foghat/Grand funk railroad kind of R&B style, you already have this record. It´s a great album in that sense and one you shouldn´t get past it without further examination.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

SAVAGE GRACE-SAVAGE GRACE 2-

Released in 1971 this is the second and more preferable album from powerhouse rockers Savage Grace from Detroit Michigan.

After furious touring in the late 60´s Savage Grace got their attention noticed by Reprise Records after a “slap in the face” performance, opening for Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. Their debut was released later that year, simply called “Savage Grace”.

Relocating to LA, their second album didn´t materialized until late 1971. But I must confess that the waiting was worth every second. This album is much better, more consistent and better produced. The Vocals are gritty and dusty at the same time, the guitar sounds like a hotrod on nitro and all is wrapped up in a keyboard fury, fantastic!!  Talk about Grace under pressure!!

Whatabout the drummer, Larry Zack?? As a founding member of this outfit he just bursts with high octane energy, playing like there´s no tomorrow.

Funky backbeats mixed with great impact, clear striking and the best delivery out of Detroit, this is entertainment extravaganza…. 🙂

To bad that the band unfolded later in ´72 and they never got the recognition they deserved. A bit surprising due to their excellent handling of their instruments and furious playing, but sometimes things aren´t to be.

It´s easy to recommend you to buy this album, well crafted in every way there´s no chance you would go sour over buying this hard/heavy/psych album. It´s just splendid.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-VERY GOOD!!-WORTH BUYING-

LEGS DIAMOND-LEGS DIAMOND-

Released in 1977 this outfit from LA California is, for me, a turning point in American hard/metal rock progression.

As kings at partying in San Antonios frathouse/parking places, where this band had a huge following, their debut album is a really knockout. There are some very heavy influences from late Deep Purple in the songs in a positive way and yet it´s a personal and admirable record. No wondering why Legs Diamond also goes by the moniker “The American Purple”

The producing of the album is top notch with great vocals, guitars and drums. A story that goes around is that Gene Simmons was so impressed by the song”Satin Peacock” that he wanted it for Kiss but that just didn´t happened. That´s  a cool story….  🙂

Whatabout the drummer??

Jeff Poole has been with the band ever since the startup and there´s nothing bad about his playing. It´s definitely better than Peter Criss, who would be the nearest to compare by. Thanks to the good producing of the album you tend to forget about the drums which is good in one way but sad, if you wanted to do a statement on the album.

This album is as good as Montrose debut in 1973. Slick, powerful and very American.  If you´re in for this type of almost AOR this one´s already in you possession, otherwise it´s a good purchase and it´s rather cheap.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

The only thing a drummer to another never ever have in common is the use of snare drums. While guitarists and other must have musicians can actually get along  sometimes, there´s always disagreement among drummers which snare drum to prefer at certain times.

And why is this?? As a drummer the snare drum is the only thing that will seperate you from another. The snare is the signature sound to your prefered playing style and a very personal way to adress your audience.

There´s no way a serious drummer would say, – Oh I´m happy to borrow yours..

To find out what is your preference when it comes to a personal sound and signature there´s only one way to find out. Keep on trying and testing!!

The first choice is to get comfortable with size and depth. A good beginning is to choose a die cast snare with depth of 5-6,5″ and a good batter drumhead that suits your musicstyle. This will probably take sometime because it´s a jungel out there with models this and models that…

The choice of a good die cast snare will cover 85% of all musicstyles and the only thing you´ll need to change would be the choice of drum head batter.

A good tip would be to invest in a Wood Shell snare and a die cast snare. You will be surprised how big the difference is between these two and ultimately with different drumhead batters on them.

Enjoy Reading more from the article in modern drummer.

A real treat for the one who´s lost in  choice and are looking for a personalized sound of one´s snare drum.

Enjoy!

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2014/12/need-know-snare-drums/

Released in 1970 this is one historys most underated albums when it comes to Hard/Heavy rock impact. Classic rock magazine even called them “the lost pioneers of Heavy metal” Not bad..

Originated from Houston Texas this four piece band(at the time of this album) put in a lot of Sabbath/blues into their Music. With the vocals howling and great fuzzy guitar to follow it up, this is a treasure for those who are in to hard/psych/Heavy rock from the early 70´s.

Many of the tracks appear on their prevoius release in 1969 but the new additions to this album just verify that you´re in for the real deal. As the saying goes; Don´t mess with Texas, just fits right in. The producing could have been better but it doesn`t suffer that much. Raise the volume and it will be fixed.. 🙂

Whatabout the drummer?? Doug Tull is his name and I must say that the resemblance with Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is striking. Heavy impact, thunderous playing on the drums gives this album the edge it deserves. This is a must listen and here are some nice things to take with you on the way.

What a thrilling thought if the band had tuned down a notch and really went “all in” for some more heavy sound…but that´s what dreams are made for.. 🙂

A stunning piece of work gives me the pleasure to recommend you to buy this album, a really good testament of great American hard/Heavy rock at its best.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

ORANG-UTAN   ORANG-UTAN-

Released only in the US 1970 by Bell records this English outfit is not only bold enough to put a fuzzy ape on the cover, they really deliver too..

Relying upon great bluesy riffs with great Twin guitar playing this is a fiest for anyones ears. Branded as acid/prog/hard and Heavy it´s a bit of a riddle why this is an album that has eluded people, because it´s a great album.

The story goes that no one of the band was informed by the upcoming release of the record in the States and even so they still persuaded fame under the name “Hunter” claimed from the Albert King song. The idea was put up by the producer of the album, Adrian Miller who even stole the material for this one release and convinced their unsuspected manager to trade the bands name to Orang-Utan…Hey where´s the animal rights Group ????

And whatabout the drummer, Joe Seopardie?? As a mainman behind all songs his playing is a bit under avarage. Cautious is the Word here. It lacks a bit of “go for it” and as for comparison to the guitars and bass playing it´s a shame, this could have been much better.

Although, great songs, terrific producing and a lot of head nodding overall. If you´re in to hard/blues/prog rock this is a must have record and it outplays almost any record from this timeperiod. There are some great reissues for small cash out there so do not hesitate…

Don´t forget to raise the volumeknob a few notches when you play it because that´s what this album deserves.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD!! -GAME,SET AND MATCH-

MASTER´S APPRENTICES-CHOICE CUTS-

Released in 1971 and recorded in London by the fall in 1970, this is a milestone in Australian proprog history.

After winning a music competition in may of 1970, the band got the oppertunity to go to England and record an album and try to conquer the british musicscene. As they never really got through to the common people, the album they made is never the less tremendous. Reviews and musicpress hailed the album as ” standing out from the pile”

The songs are a bit mixed in style with much Heavy bottom and some tendensies to oversteer to almost prog. Mixing blues/hard rock with progression gives a unique standing by comparision of the Australian progscene, no album get you to the other side of things like this one does. This is a good album in that sense.

Jim Keays vocal abilitys reminds me of Geddy Lee in Rush but with a bit more feeling, awesome. The guitar of Doug Ford is the force behind the band, good riffs and melodies and catching solos. The Bassguitar playing are second to none. If I didn´t know that he where selftought you could have fooled me, this is great playing and delivering.

Whatabout the drummer, Colin Burgess?? The first thing that strikes me is that it´s not Colin who´s in charged here. A bit anxious plying from time to time but nothing to get upset about. Mr.Burgess doesn´t leave the feeling that you just experienced something out of this world. A bit boring…

It would be easy to recommend you to buy this album.. but; if you´re not interested in this borderline Music between/prog/blues/hard rock you should go for their runner up album   ” A toast to Panama red” but more of that album further on up the road.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-