In this day and age, many have tired of the senseless speed and want much more. Francesco Fareri set out on his second release Forbidden Dimension to give them just that. There is plenty of mind-boggling speed metal shredding, but there is also beautiful piano, keyboards and many parts of pure fusion. Lion Music promotes the Italian as a "7-string guitar whiz," and he sure uses all 7 in a very different way like on the peaceful moments of pure ambience beauty in "Secrets pt.2." The best thing of the album is that Fareri gets "it" and allows his team of world class musicians to make the best possible music for the album not play second or third fiddle by simply setting up his solo work. A great example is Vitali Kuprij playing the straight keys and piano parts and Bob Katsionis tearing through about a half dozen keyboard solos that blend with Fareri tremendously. The bass player Kyle Honea also does an outstanding job of laying down the "heavy", and drummer Jon Doman is out of his noggin as well!

The bottom line is this is more than neo-classical progressive shred and includes many facets of a successful band, not just a show-off looking for the cover of Guitar World! For the speed demons out there that want to know how he compares to Stump or Impelitteri, there is "Inside," a tantalizing speed warp that changes pace enough to not bore yet delivers the virtuosity as well. The best track on the album is the nine-minute "Illusions" where key and guitar solos run crazy around a solid kick-ass drum track and more tempo changes than your favorite old-fashioned wooden roller coaster.

This CD is worthy of purchase on several levels, so stop wasting time and get on-line and buy it. You won't be sorry.

HRH Rating: 8.3/10