Search - Groundhogs :: Razors Edge

80's Comeback Effort

JOHN SPOKUS | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States | 11/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Hogs were out of action since 1976's Black Diamond release. Tony McPhee was always more successful using the Hogs name rather than billing himself as a solo artist. In 1985 Razor's Edge was released with a new bassist and drummer on board. This album is by far the weakest Groundhogs ever,not much in the way of production(ie. sounds cheaply recorded), much simpler, streamlined songs(a common 80's problem for everyone in general) lacking the compositional flare of McPhee's best work, and much closer to a type of mainstream "blues metal". The best moments remind one of Rory Gallagher, not bad company (no not Paul Rodgers old band)."Moving Fast, Standing Still"(also the name of an out of print double album that contained this release in it's entirety, along with McPhee's rare solo LP Two Sides Of Tony McPhee)is my favorite cut,reminiscent of the riff from the classic "Garden" from Thank Christ For The Bomb, with a great bassline that snakes around the main guitar figure. The next outting, 1987's Back Against The Wall, was an overrall improvement over Razor's Edge, with a new drummer and a sound closer to classic Groundhogs, though slightly updated. Groundhogs enthusiasts will still want Razor's Edge as an archive piece in their collection."