Tony MacAlpine "Premonition"

"Premonition" is an instrumental offering comprised of aggressive rock and fusion compositions, featuring bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Deen Castronovo. The CD features a few short piano pieces that seem to crop up on most MacAlpine releases, but the main focus is on the heavy guitar instrumentals. Macalpine's speed and fluidity on his axe of choice is impressive once again and session drummer Deen Castronovo is excellent throughout. "The Violin Song", with its heavy metal approach, and "Inflection", delving into a fusiony feel, feature former Malmsteen sidekick Jens Johnansson and stretch the musicality even further. On "Premonition", Macalpine definitely gives his shredder fans an album they'll appreciate, and it finds the guitarist returning to a style that brought him a large following in the early years of the Shrapnel label..