REVIEW : Bob Katsionis --- Prognosis & Synopsis (2018)

The name of Bob Katsionis is well-known among the fans of today's melodic metal/hard rock scene. This multi-talented and gifted musician has already a solid career with Firewind as well as with the melodic hard rock band of Outloud.

REVIEW : Red Morris - “Lady Rose” (2015)

Maurizio Parisi a.k.a. Red Morris is a Brescia-based rock guitarist, who ever since he was a child, he's fascinated by every noise that can sound like a rhythm!! As a teenager he studied classic guitar for four years and later he decided to study electric guitar. He strongly influenced by classic rock bands like Santana, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Cream.

ADRIAN WEISS / Easy Game (2014)

Three years after the solid debut "Big Time", Adrian Weiss is back with his brand new "Easy Game". To be honest here, I really enjoyed Weiss' first release, it was a fine piece of guitar-driven effort featuring some really impressive riffs and solos and showed his talent not only as a guitarist but as a composer too.

HANS PLATZ / TIMESTAMPS (2013)

To be honest here, I have never heard the name of Hans Platz till' now that I received the promo of his debut album to write a review. Hans Platz is a German guitarist that has many years of studio and live experience with several bands. For some years now, he plays in the band‚Feuerschwanz„, with whom he was already able to celebrate chart successes.

JOE MATERA / TERRA FIRMA (2013)

Joe Matera is an Australian guitarist and has already a 20-plus career on his shoulders! This guitar-wizard has released an acoustic effort, "Travellin' West" in 2010 and the next one, "Slave To The Fingers" (EP), in 2012 has gained some really solid reviews.

NATHAN FROST / SYNECRON (2013)

Nathan started playing piano at age 3, and started playing Pong shortly thereafter. Picking up a high school girlfriend's bass, he cofounded Strychnine -- an all-originals progressive metal band in Vancouver, British Columbia -- where he played bass, keyboards, and sang whenever he wasn't programming videogames, studying music theory, and slouching through classes.

Simone Fiorletta / “Personalities” (2013)

Simone Fiorletta hails from Italy and in the recent years has managed to 'build a strong reputation in Europe around his name because of his amazing skills on the six-string 'goddess'. This talented guy has already released three solo albums and is well-known for his participation in the progressive metal band of Moonlight Comedy and No Gravity.

BARISH KEPIC / ADDICTION (2012)

Guitarist and songwriter Barish Kepic joined Jaded Heart in 1998 for the great "IV" album, and left the German hard rockers after the solid "Helluva Time". For "Helluva Time", Barish was involved more with the songwriting and as Kepic said : " ...about 80% of the music on "Helluva Time" was originally written for my solo record...".

JOE MATERA / CREATURE OF HABIT (2012)

"Creature Of Habit" is the brand new album by Australian guitarist Joe Matera (http://www.joematera.com/home.cfm) . Backing Matera in this one are James Strickler (Angellic Rage) on drums, Tony Dolan on bass (3 tracks) and, also, Rich Davenport on bass on one track. Other guests here are Fred Mascherino and Rick Brewster.

XANDER DEMOS / GUITARCADIA (2012)

Xander Demos is a high-energy rock and metal guitar player from Pittsburgh, PA. He currently fronts his own solo band, as well as playing lead guitar for Pittsburgh’s favorite party rock outfit, Into The Arena. 

JOE MATERA / SLAVE TO THE FINGERS (2011)

Joe Matera is an Australian solo instrumental guitarist and he has already a 20-plus career in his shoulder! Matera was the lead guitarist in Australian rock band GEISHA (2007-2010) and founding lead axeman for classic rock group DOUBLE VISION (2003-2008). He has, also, been involved in several projects and recordings, one of which includes being guest guitar soloist on legendary UK metallers ATOMKRAFT's scorching cover of THIN LIZZY's "Cold Sweat".

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.

Lars Eric Mattsson / Aurora Borealis (2011)

Guitar virtuoso / composer Lars Eric Mattsson returns with the ultimate neo-classical experience in which metal and rock guitar, bass and drums meets classical music for the harmoniously rich ‘Aurora Borealis’. This new wholly instrumental 12 track release takes a fresh approach to the blend of guitar and orchestra for a musical experience as uplifting as seeing the wonder of the northern lights, from which the album gets its title.

Whilst the combination of orchestra and guitar may have been done before by amongst others one of Mattsson’s influences Uli Jon Roth; „Aurora Borealis‟ takes the range of sound and expressions further that what has been heard before and places as much emphasis on each tracks backing as with its guitar work. The result is a highly captivating and listenable experience. Lush in textures and timbres, „Aurora Borealis‟ comes across at times like a film score; sometimes fast and exotic whilst at others sweet and luxurious. Many moods are covered and all of which see Mattsson deliver impassioned guitar work in his own inimitable style. Lars Eric Mattsson said about his new effort, “I tried to compose the music with enough variations and the right flow from start to end and keep things listenable by using the right arrangements”.

So as you all understood this is an album a bit more different than the average shred release. It has emotions and some incredible orchestral parts all delivered in such a great way! „Aurora Borealis‟ sees Lars Eric Mattsson almost halfway through his third decade in the music business with a new release that is testament to his vision and appetite to ever expand his musical horizons and does so in fine style.
HeavyParadise's Rating : 8,5/10

Track Listing:

1. Rising 5:18 2. Bounce 4:18 3. Cold Water Spirit 5:58 4. Forward Thinking 6:20 5. Revolutionary Star 4:42 6. The Heart 3:58 7. Eternal Cycles 4:22 8. Clear Skies 4:08 9. Planetary Strength 3:19 10. Parisienne Etude 0:57 11. Midnight Sun 7:46 12. Starfall 5:26

George Lynch / Orchestral Mayhem (2010)

This is the brand new album from one of the greatest guitar players out there. Ladies and gentlements Mr. George Lynch! In fact this is the first 100% instrumental album by him and man...it rocks with a 'classical' twist!

Mr. Scary here covers some well known classical music themes, and not only, from  Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky among others and he delievers the goods. But be prepared, he is not playing the classics with an electric guitar, he is 'using' them to create and jam over and show off his incredible guitar skills.
Personaly I find this release very interesting and enjoyable. It's nice to hear something different from your favourite artists as long this 'different' thing is a good one. This is a good one, in fact this is a very good one. So, bottom line is that if you are a Lynch fan then this album is a must have. Also this effort is a big must have for all the guitar maniacs out there! Buy it.
HeavyParadise's Rating: 9/10

Tracks

1. Bittersweet Symphony Cover: The Verve 2. Für Elise Beethoven 3. Carmina Burana Orff 4. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1st Movement Mozart 5. Habanera Bizet from the opera Carmen 6. Venetian Boat Song Mendelssohn from Songs Without Words 7. Prelude In G Minor Rachmaninoff 8. William Tell Overture Rossini 9. The Waltz Of The Flowers Tchaikovsky from The Nutcracker 10. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 4th Movement Mozart 11. Clair De Lune Debussy 12. Wizards In Winter Cover: Trans-Siberian Orchestra 13. Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24

Andy Timmons / That Was Then, This Is Now (2002)

Andy Timmons is one of the most well-respected and talented musicians in the rock world. Timmons got his start at the age of 13, forming his first band in Evansville, IN. In 1989 joined hair-metal super group Danger Danger and the rest of the story is well known, million of albums, tour around the world and a huge success.

"That Was Then, This Is Now" is a collection of tracks he recorded for Ear X-tacy Records, plus 5 super 2002 tracks that showcase Andy's new vision, development, and songwriting maturity.A great instrumental album.

Tracks

1. Super 70's 2. Pink Champagne Sparkle 3. Falling Down 4. Beautiful Strange 5. Turn Away 6. I Remember Stevie 7. Cry For You 8. Farmer Sez 9. Electric Gypsy 10. It's Getting Better 11. That Was Then, This Is Now 12. Groove Or Die 13. A Night To Remember 14. Carpe Diem 15. Donna Lee twist - live 16. Slips Away bonus track dedicated to George Harrison

doug aldrich / alter ego (2001)

Fantastic instrumental album from Doug Aldrich. In this album featuring an all-star line-up of great musicians such as Ron Young (little ceasar), Johnny Gioeli (hardline), Kal Swan (bad moon rising, lion,leatherwolf) ,Matt Kramer (saigon kick) on vocals.
Doug is an amazing guitarist.........
tracks: 1. Super Fly Sumo 2. Face Down 3. Millwall Brick 4. Toro 5. The Trudge 6. Trash & Fascination
7. Appalachian Sister 8. Her Kingdom 9. Westcoast
10. Highcentered 11. Sky Blue & Black 12. Midnight Sun 13. Flav O Fraz

 
 
 
 
 
 

doug aldrich / Highcentered

Officially released in japan in 1994 and it comes with a different tracklist ("face down" instead of "if 6 was 9") & different cover. Doug is one of the best guitarists with some amazing riffs. The man has feeling!!!! Guest vocals in this album are from Johnny Gioeli (Hardline,Axel Rudi Pell) on "face down" . Overall a great instrumental heavy rock album. 8/10   

1. Highcentered 4:21  2. Trudge 4:04

3. If 6 Was 9 4:13 Cover: Jimi Hendrix

4. Appalachian Sister 5:05

5. Clouds in My Mind 5:10

6. Lemon Stick 3:13

7. T.O.R.Q. 3:35

8. Wranglin' Man 5:18

9. Wardance 4:45

10. Dark House 6:10