omments: Being honest, while sometimes hard, is the greatest thing about this gig. Studying virtuosos in the guitar metal/shred category for years makes this task even harder. What hasn't been done? There are speed demons like Stump and Impelliterri, creative monsters like Steve Vai and smooth cats like Joe Satriani, Milan Polak and Chris Poland. Some guys like Mattias "IA" Eklundh make the guitar sound like crazy things, while Jon Donais and Chris Broderick exhibit uncanny power in their playing. Then there is Malmsteen, who still 25 years later is the only one to have combined all the elements of speed, technique and melody with complete perfection. With that type of history and competition in the field, who knew what to expect out of yet another New Yorker still stuck in the '80s.
Several negative observations deserve to be mentioned with Mike Orlando's debut album, Sonic Stomp. The good news is that the good outweighs the bad 10-2! The album starts with two disjointed over the top ridiculous tracks that seem more like practice than real cohesive songs. Wild, frantic, speedy tapping and scale work yielded the thought "oh no not another wannabe shredder." Luckily, being patient paid off and the third track made the ears start to really wonder who Mike Orlando really was. The track is entitled "Game Over" and is a wonderful video game assimilation full of plenty of flashy technique. The difference on this track is a sweet melody that is played throughout helping to bind the song together nicely.
The fourth cut "Jam on It" was a wild and wooly jam session with plenty of rock guitar rhythm, lounge acoustics and shred. Drummer A.J Pero of Twisted Sister guests on this track. This cut sounded much like a shred version of a Satriani "boogie" type track. Next up was the best song on the CD, the beautiful "Horizons," where Orlando plays soft subtle tones, almost seducing the listener into seeing his ample guitar playing talents. It is both silky smooth and completely dominant in its use of phrasing and clean yet rocket fast technique. It was Jason Becker meets Jonny Lang. Damn.
The rest of the album is very well done also, with the major highlights being the soulful shred on "Changes," the mellow funk shred groove on "Movement" and the kick ass power metal biker shred on "Flex." Folks every single one of you needs to get out there and buy this unique guitar album. After watching G-3 live in Japan all last week, then reviewing this record this week, one thing became abundantly clear. This man should be the next third guitarist standing with Satriani and Vai, not playing for some bullshit Ozzy/Black Sabbath Cover band. And that's as honest as humanly possible.
Great work Mr. Orlando, great work. You've managed to create something that belongs with the best instrumental albums of the past, present or future!
HRH Rating: 8.4/10
omments: Being honest, while sometimes hard, is the greatest thing about this gig. Studying virtuosos in the guitar metal/shred category for years makes this task even harder. What hasn't been done? There are speed demons like Stump and Impelliterri, creative monsters like Steve Vai and smooth cats like Joe Satriani, Milan Polak and Chris Poland. Some guys like Mattias "IA" Eklundh make the guitar sound like crazy things, while Jon Donais and Chris Broderick exhibit uncanny power in their playing. Then there is Malmsteen, who still 25 years later is the only one to have combined all the elements of speed, technique and melody with complete perfection. With that type of history and competition in the field, who knew what to expect out of yet another New Yorker still stuck in the '80s.