InsaneGuitar.com presents...

September, 2004

     Wow, it sure has been a long time since I've given you guys anything new to check out! Don't worry, though, I have four new, extremely talented musicians for you to drool over this month. My apologies go out to Pablo Gomez, Laurent Fleury, and Eric Normand who sent me their albums and mp3s months ago. Thanks for waiting so patiently while there were no updates.

     If you would like me to write about your music, please email me at carter@insaneguitar.net. You can find my ICQ and AIM information by checking out the forum or by sending me an email. Remember, I am not here to critique your playing, so please only submit requests if you are a serious musician looking for some much deserved recognition.

Contrastes
Laurent Fleury

     At the risk of sounding embarrassingly cliché, I must say that this album definitely put me at a loss of words the first time through it.
     The sound Laurent Fleury manages to create is one of the freshest I have heard in, well, ever. He tastefully makes full use of the amplified guitar, employing strange sound effects and full-on shred when needed. It doesn't stop with just lead guitar, though.
     It seems like a great deal of attention was given to the rhythm playing as well. Not only do the riffs flow well, but they are surprisingly interesting and energetic.
     One of my favorite songs on Contrastes is “Un Peu d'Air,” an acoustic piece full of life and excitement. There are a number of other high moments such as the French lyrics in “Le Mort Joyeux,” which are frighteningly intense sounding (though I haven't a clue what is being said). Each track pulls its own weight, however, as none failed to hold my attention for even a second.
     To those listeners out their looking for a new twist on instrumental rock guitar, look no further than Laurent Fleury.

Things to Check Out:
· Laurent Fleury

Pablo Gomez

     Several months ago, someone posted in the Insane Guitar forum that he didn't know of any French guitarists. Strangely enough, I received an email from Pablo Gomez that very day.
     Not only is Pablo Gomez from France, but he is also a guitarist, and a damn fine one at that.
     There are few guitarists out there these days that possess the melodic sense and finesse that Gomez tries to instill in us with each and every song on his website.
     The technique is there; there is no doubt about that. Tracks like “Love & Hate” exhibit a certain level of emotional fluidity that makes this artist stand out above your average shred-head. Pablo Gomez has even posted a flamenco piece on his site by which I was thoroughly impressed. It sounds like this man has invested a great deal of time and energy into his love for music.
     From what I have heard of him, Pablo Gomez is ready for a higher production level release. In the mean time, though, he's definitely a guitarist worth looking into.

Things to Check Out:
· Pablo Gomez

Songs Without Words
Eric Normand

     You know, it's weird. I've always been fascinated with the sound of country music. The only thing that stops me from being a fan is the vocal style and lyrics.
     I now have found sanctuary in Eric Normand's exciting blend of country, blues, and rock instrumental guitar music.
     According to his press packet, Normand has been making music since he was 8 years old. This amount of experience is what it takes to achieve the level of emotion and sincerity that makes up the bulk of Eric's sound.
     His bends and vibrato are excellent and show full control over the instrument. The tones he gets are nothing short of stunning, which is something that really can only come with hard work, dedication, and a great deal of passion for creating art.
     The melodies in songs like “Kelly's Boogie” are vibrant and fun to listen to, and things just seem to get more interesting the further into the album you venture.
     In the end, there are only two words that need to be said about Eric Normand's playing. Songs Without Words is pure class and style.

Things to Check Out:
· Eric Normand

Defiance
Project Steiger

     This one came out of nowhere, and it completely changed my outlook on shred guitar.
     Ken Steiger is a great guitarist with impeccable technique and a superb sound. And that's not the best part about Defiance.
     The songs are not a bunch of minor scale runs with diminished arpeggios thrown in. They actually have a pretty up-beat sound, with awesome riffs and some very fitting lead playing. On top of that, Steiger's tone is very polished sounding and is pleasing to the ears.
     That isn't to say that the man can't play, though. The focus for most of the album seems to be on face-splitting aggression, and Project Steiger pulls it off without hesitation. These guys take their music seriously, and that attitude definitely makes itself known each time I pop in their CD.
     You are all encouraged to browse through the Project Steiger homepage. I found plenty of stuff to look at, including some mp3 samples from the album.      While you guys are busy doing that, I think I'll go give Defiance another listen or three.

Things to Check Out:
· Project Steiger

All reviews written by Carter Johnston, Jr.. All represented material is copyrighted by their respective authors.