Comments:
Shred? Sure. Powerful riffs? Check. Is this yet another mindless pseudo
guitar god album? No fucking way! Former drummer boy Mark Shuster
was even self-deprecating in his press release for this album, something
you will never see from an expert guitarist. He admitted he hadn't
touched a guitar in more then 10 years! That may be the most refreshingly
honest thing in the history of rock CD promotion. The $64,000 question
is: was his extended layoff a liability? In this case, no it certainly
was not. In his case it was more then 10 years spent growing, maturing
and letting multiple solid rhythms spawn into one well-written song
after another! There is a song here for all style guitar aficionados.
The metal fans get an early treat with a distortional almost Satriani,
early Lynch flavored tune called "Bang, Bang" that includes
some really "seasoned" bass guitar playing as well.
Next
up is the best written song on the CD, "Agree to Disagree,"
a soft rock/metal tune that flows like beads of water down Paris Hilton's
legs. A muted "ahh, ahh" is sung a few times here but the
highlight is the clear slow lead played over the basic rock rhythm.
It's just so damn catchy!
The
rock/blues fans have "Dancing with the Devil" a soulful
rock tune with mad feel and clarity. This track is as good a driving
song as there has been in ages! An evil voice pans a Devilish, "Hey
baby you wanna dance," as Schuster finishes with an almost Bayou
rhythm.
"Herd
Of Elephants" includes some fast lead licks and much more slowly
played heartfelt soul-rock as well. There are even a few psychedelic
licks at the songs end too for good measure. The album's title track
is a spirited rock/metal doing "85" in the slow lane bonanza!
He even slams on the brakes at one point during the song and plays
a piece of a possessed monster with high-pitched sustained notes of
painful discourse. But then it's back into the manic weaving in and
out of lanes and the depressive slows for red lights.
Not
sure who "Ginger" was, but she either had an impact on this
life or a previous one for Mark. The track is solemn and pretty but
morose and melancholy as well. It may either pleasantly remind you
of a love once lost or inspire you to try and find that same lady
sometime soon. It's that powerful.
Up
next is the similar "A Matter of Time," which never speeds
but pulls on your heartstrings throughout with more soulful playing!
He laces it occasionally with tasty powerful lead pieces too. "Welcome
To the Freak Show" plays to a basic rock rhythm and includes
several speedy leads as well as a few more "Devil" style
vocal statements.
"Judas Kiss" starts out with Hendrix styled distortion pulls
and a few powerful gongs before vaulting into another power rock ditty
and finally finishing on the distortion pull express.
The
last track is "The Long Road Home" a reflectively beautiful
way to enhance this well played album. This guy loves rhythms, and
man it shows! He probably dreams rhythms for Christ's sake! The leads
in this sound a bit of soulful, like Richie Sambora with a touch of
Jake. E Lee thrown in for flavor. Either way, they are as true and
real as your first kiss.
When you put in an instrumental guitar album and the next thing you
know it's over, it's either a ringing endorsement or a death sentence.
In this case, it is surely the former.
The
flow of this record is seamless and expert, and is just the beginning
of the words you could use to describe Schuster's impeccably clean
soulful style. Go to www.fossilrecords.net and pick up a copy of this
unisex friendly record for Valentine's Day; your mate won't be disappointed,
but he/she may get a few more speeding tickets!
Band
Members:
Mark
Shuster-All Guitars, Bass Guitar
Track
listing:
1. Bang Bang
2. Agree to Disagree
3. Dancing with the Devil
4. Herd of Elephants
5. Monster Me
6. Ginger
7. A Matter of Time
8. Welcome to the Freak Show
9. Judas Kiss
10. The Long Road Home
HRH
Rating: 8.4/10
