a l b u m r e v i e w s


VON GROOVE
DRIVIN' OFF THE EGDE OF THE WORLD
MTM Music 0681-11
Produced by: Von Groove
Released: OUT / Website
Closest Relative: Def Leppard
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 82%

  1. I Can't Find My Groove
  2. Drivin' Off The Edge
  3. South Of Zero
  4. Stone Soldier
  5. Slide
  6. Blue Murder
  7. Control
  8. Jack The Riffer
  9. Cold To You
  10. I Found Heaven

Von Groove are a very good band. Aside from Rainmaker, they really have never disappointed and in each album have always delivered something different, while retaining their original base sound.
Their last album Test Of Faith was my favourite release of theirs and still is.
It was softer, more crafted and more AOR than any other album.
But there was a lot of feedback from the fans they it was too soft and didn't rock enough.
Shame that really, if you haven't heard it, take a listen - it's a extremely well written album.
So on Drivin' the guys have once again returned to a hard rocking direction that should please all those that complained about the previous album. There is also a more modern edge to the record.
I can take these guys any direction that they care to go in, so that's fine, but I still think Test Of Faith is their best album!
I Can't Find My Groove is hard, heavy and full of vocal effects and some heavy ass grooves. The title track is more traditional hard rocking VG, right back where they began.
South Of Zero is not quite as heavy, but faster still and a great fun uptempo hard rocker. I love the chorus, it's got a great heavy hook.
Stone Soldier is more in the vein of the last couple of MTM albums, an OK song, but maybe lacking a big hook.
Slide is a definite modern rock song. Some sampling effects, a soft verse and big heavy chorus and ripping guitar lead. Good song again, but a little foreign to the rest of the album.
Blue Murder is another mid tempo rocker with a degree of originality and a little modern rock influence again. The song runs along smoothly and the chorus is catchy, but it is not until the song reaches two thirds it's length that things really get interesting. The pace suddenly doubles and there is a very tasteful and very melodic lead guitar break that is one of the best of the album.
Control is a big modern guitar heavy rocker that suits the album and will be rated as one of Von Groove's more contemporary rockers. Jack The Riffer is an instrumental. Not normally one to rate these songs highly, but this one is a great rock instrumental. Hard, funky, well paced and pretty catchy.
Cold To You sees the guys trying something different yet again. Another modern rocker but with a difference. The intro and the chorus takes on a traditional Indian feel with various effects used. Pretty cool actually.
And one of my favourite tracks of the album ends the record. I Found Heaven sounds like it was left off the Test Of Faith record. It's clearly more melodic than most other tracks on the record, but has been recorded a little heavier to fit the tone of the rest of the record.
BOTTOM LINE: Another good Von Groove record to add to the collection. This one is however sees the guys searching a little for a new direction, one that might be more easily defined on their next record.
The production is also a little varied, with some tracks a little clearer than others in the mix.
But overall a record that please anyone looking for the guys to rock out more and one that I think will rate well with most.
PRODUCTION: 80% SONGS: 82% VIBE: 82%ATTITUDE: 80%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All Von Groove fans. Good melodic hard rock fans.
DISCOGRAPHY:Von Groove . Rainmaker . Mission Man . Chameleon . Test Of Faith . Drivin' Off The Edge Of The World

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