H R H - R E V I E W S

Alex Masi
Late Night At Desert Rimrock Lion Music

Comments: During a 2005 interview with this very Web site, Alex Masi defended the indefensible, Metallica's colossal post And Justice for All musical sellout. He was incensed that fans dictate what an artist could or could not produce as he and his friends in the aforementioned band are "artists." While the reporter and Masi had to agree to disagree on Metallica's complete paradigm "cash-in," the point was extremely well taken in reference to the talented world class virtuoso Alex Masi's approach to the guitar. A man that produces exclusively instrumental guitar albums for over 20 years and was nominated for a Grammy obviously has significantly more latitude than a thrash metal genre founding band with a throng of ravenous fans.

Masi is simply as good as it gets with the guitar in his hand. He also spoke about his passion to work professionally with surprisingly enough, Snoop Dogg, and an extreme metal vocalist and Pakistani vocalist Rahat Ali Khan. He has spent the last few years studying Persian, Arab and Indian musical styles. Masi comes straight off of taking concerto's from Mozart, Beethoven and Bach and recreating them with only the guitar, a monumental feat.

This time out though it is a completely different face lift for Masi and damn does he show his numerous talents along the way! Masi produces an exceptional jazz/fusion rock album that is as good as the top bands in the genre. Fitting right in with Billy Sheehan's Niacin or Chris Poland's OHM, Alex Masi is exceptional. Teaming up with the best drummer in the world John Macaluso (Ark, Yngwie Malmsteen, Milan Polak), Alex navigates his way around fusion rock like an old pro. He shows a sensational feel for the "sadness" necessary to create an amazing fusion groove and more importantly, throughout the entire record, sustain it.

Crazy thing is, the record starts out with absolutely no signs of anything remotely resembling a fusion record. The first track "Vagina Denata" is pure show off from Masi and wow, is it spectacular. He makes his way around the world of rock/metal guitar from mach-4 shred to flamenco styled rocket fast plucking. The second track "You Asked" has speedy playing too but is more conventional fusion styled guitar with distortion and tremendous bass as well. "Antistructure" has deep classic metal leads and solo work in a refreshing fashion, where Masi almost takes the listener on an eclectic journey that also includes some bad ass shred. Do you get the point boys and girls?

Alex Masi is a fucking genius and has decided to make a record playing exactly how he wanted to. And the best thing is Alex Masi has decided to make a record exactly how he wanted to. Take the titles that focus on everything from a vagina to asparagus. Funny thing is, after 20+ years of excellence from Masi it seems that he has just scratched the surface of his tremendous talent base. Oh and Macaluso is a fucking monster on the drums as usual. What else would you expect? Folks this is a spectacular album, buy this record immediately.

Track Listing:
1. Vagina Denata
2. You Asked
3 Antistructure
4. Love Is A Resonance
5. Asparagus Piss
6. Disembodied In Mojave
7. Tiktaalik In Evolution
8. The Smess Of Weightlessness
9. Telling England By The Sound
10. His/Her Dosage
11. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't?
12. Unsolved

HRH Rating: 9/10