By: Brian Coles
erek Sherinian has carved out a mighty career, especially considering how many keyboardists get reduced to the studio musician class indefinitely. Though Mr. Sherinian started out humbly enough, supporting Alice Cooper and KISS in what were decidedly peripheral roles, he served a notable stint in seminal heavy prog outfit Dream Theater. After parting ways with the band, he was free to embrace his personal vision of pompous keyboard wizardy. Last year's Planet X, though technically a musical group, was obviously an exercise in the continued freedom Sherinian enjoys outside of the constricting environments big names invariably impose.
It therefore makes sense that his latest effort is a no holds barred, obtuse and orgasmicly abstract keyboard and guitar shredfest. Sherinian duels it out will both Zakk Wylde and Steve Lukather, two axe slingers who provide a diverse palette for Sherinian to play around in. Naturally, Lukather is more "clean" and Morse-like in his playing, so those cuts are more on the fusion side. Here Sherinian practices atmospherics and of course, does so flawlessly. The man has enough wisdom to hold back when the occasion calls for it. On the flipside, the squealing evil of Wylde's guitar allows Sherinan to develop the musical score to a bitter sweet, often intensely gorgeous carpeltunnel syndrome. It doesn't take a lot to imagine his soaring, fluttering fingers dotting the keys with machine gun precision. Thankfully though, the man knows melody. This ain't Bach, but Beethoven. Everything is there for a reason and gets back right on time.
As you can imagine, this is a quite a demanding set. Yet somehow, in a panoramic overview of sonic potential, it all ties together effortlessly. Great stuff.
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