ADRIAN WEISS / BIG TIME (2011)

Adrian Weiss is an American living in Germany guitarist of the progressive metal bands THOUGHT SPHERE (1996 – 2002) and FORCES AT WORK (2002 – today). So far Adrian Weiss has released 7 cds with his bands THOUGHT SPHERE and FORCES AT WORK. In addition to his extensive live activity with his bands, he has performed clinics and solo gigs at various events including MY MUSIC EXPO in Dresden (2009) and the Guitar Fight Convention in 2009 and 2010 as well as the NEW DÜSSELDORF POP event in 2011.

"Big Time" is Adrian's first full-length solo instrumental album containing 11 songs with a total playing time of 47 Minutes. The style connects the wonderful 80s guitar-hero-times with the modern influences of rock, metal and world music. The following musical guests Adrian got to know over the years in the German music scene are featured on "Big Time" : Victor Smolski (RAGE), Joachim Kremer and Björn "Burn" Sondermann (ASSASSIN), Daniel Dring (PAUL DIANNO – BAND, RE-VISION, PERZONAL WAR), Thorsten Praest (COLDSEED, GUT, HUEHNERFRIEDHOF), Sabir Salkic, Mischa Blum and Marcel Willnat (FORCES AT WORK), Demian Heuke, Lars Zehner (N-JECTED, MERCURY ARC), Goran Vujic (GUT, LAFEE, PHISHBACHER), Michael Schröder (NOISE DRUG), Mf-C (SCARFILES, ELASTIC) and Jan Ristau (THOUGHT SPHERE).

"Summer Drive", which opens the album, starts with a relaxing riffing and reminds me a bit of Joe Satriani's earlier works. A nice track which shows the abilities of Adrian Weiss. Nice melody and the perfect soundtrack  for your next year's summer vacations. "Easy On The Ice" has a nice groove in it while "Tough Love" is a more 'difficult' in comparison with the previous tracks. "Desert Sanctuary" has a relaxed vibe in it and Adrian shows his virtuoso abilities one more time when it comes to some inspired soloing. "Liquid Pension Embellishment" is my personal favourite tune from "Big Time". There are, also, a couple of heavier or more fusion styled tracks in this album that are givin' the extra flavour to the whole result.

Bottom line is that "Big Time" is the perfect way to discover a talented musician. The perfect mix of the 80's 'big names' of instrumental albums such as Joe Satriani, Marty Friedman, Vinnie Moore and Paul Gilbert along with some heavier-fusion elements and there you have a very good release that is recommended for every guitarmaniac out there! This guy can surely play some impressive solos and riffs but he can, also, compose interesting muisc! Well done Adrian!
HeavyParadise's Rating: 8/10

Track List:

1. Summer Drive
2. Easy on the Ice
3. Tough Luck
4. Egyptian Inscription
5. Desert Sanctuary
6. Estimated Time of Arrival
7. Liquid Pension Embellishment
8. Bright Awakening
9. Morning Run
10. Disappear
11. The Progressive Society