What Lies Beyond Words is Allen's first album, and has been produced by Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon.

The first and most important thing that I must impress in this review is that this album is made up of songs. Not launching pads for instrumental wankery par excellence (or more accurately, in extremis). Scott Allen has crafted 11 tracks that stand as structured songs. Despite the guitar being the lead melodic voice, it would not be difficult at all to imagine these tracks with vocals.

Allen has assembled a strong supporting cast of musicians to bring these compositions to life. Tom Frost and Brian Kinney are a solid rhythm section on drums and bass, respectively. Marty Cresci handles rhythm guitar, and also gets an opportunity to show off a little with an outro solo on the album's concluding track, "The Clock is Ticking." The band gels quite well, and it feels obvious that they've done some significant woodshedding to polish their playing and songwriting skills. Frank Hannon's production pulls no punches, with crisp highs, a thick midrange and punchy lows that can rattle windows at high volumes, perfect for the high energy instrumental rock the Scott Allen Project brings to the table.

What Lies Beyond Words opens with "I Want Some of This (Bring It On)," a rocker which alternates crunchy blues with Satriani-esque lead lines. "The Grind" is just that; a sleazy mid tempo stomper with fuzzy, tremelo drenched guitar and a groove as deep as the Grand Canyon. Slower tracks such as "Saying Goodbye" show some degree of Jeff Beck influence, as Allen wrings long, weepy sustained notes from his instrument while his bandmates drive a smooth, jazzy vamp underneath. The album contrasts this quiet mood with the raucous "Eternal Optimist," a bright, cheery rocker with bursts of double kick drum and tastefully crunchy rhythm guitar.

A jazzier vibe can be heard on "The Cool Breeze," with Cresci's clean guitar chords glistening under overdriven leads. "A Girl I Once Knew" is an uplifting, almost anthemic rocker, with keyboard orchestration and a tasteful harmonized lead tone.

The album closes with "The Clock Is Ticking." This track literally opens with the ticking of a stopwatch as the song shifts through several time and mood changes. It's one of the least straightforward tracks on the album, and its complexity is effortless and enjoyable.

What Lies Beyond Words is appealing in that it offers actual songs for Allen to show off his guitar playing chops. With a surfeit of melody and less wanking per minute than most guitar-based instrumental albums, Scott Allen's What Lies Beyond Words is striking evidence that his is a guitar voice worthy of mention alongside the current giants in the instrumental guitar arena. If you dig players like Satriani or Petrucci, especially at their most melodic, Scott Allen will be right up you alley.