Fans of SATRIANI, YNGWIE, and MACALPINE unite!! Shredding is alive and well in ’05! You thought that you had to be on Shrapnel records to get this kinda red-hot shit, but welcome to the new home of all that is electric geeeetar: Grooveyard! If you thought that “Surfing with the Alien” was a great record, you are not alone. Almost a sub-genre of itself, these guitar-driven discs have carved a niche in our metal culture, and continually guys are coming out with these instrumental, blazing axe works that are showing the guitar culture that this is still cool.

Here we have a veteran of the field, Mr. Al Estrada. This dude’s six-string is on fire! As a huge nod to the leader in the field of this type of guitar based music, Estrada follows a formula developed by SATRIANI and VAI: short compositions, stripped down, except of course the flashy and mind-numbing guitar virtuosity. Estrada has captured the sound of the genre perfectly, blending his axe work with his own bass playing, and programming his own drums (OK, maybe a turn-off to some, but trust me, they sound real).

Tracks like “Unknown Zone” give us a great example of what this disc is all about: prime in-your-face riffing. You know, that adrenaline pumping shit coupled with a peppering of softer lead work, coming to a head with a blistering solo. “The Scorpion” gives props to Mr. Malmsteen, its construction and sound give it a feel of semi-classical metal like a RISING FORCE tune. On this track, Estrada manages to harmonize with himself (I think that is illegal in 48 states)! “Wahz Up!” shows off a bluesy vibe, a la Stevie Ray/Kenny Wayne Shepherd, but plenty of soloing, and none of those pesky vocals. Singers just get in the way of the amps anyway.

If’n you are into the guitar hero thing, this is one to grab. It can proudly sit there next to that copy of “Passion and Warfare” you got in high school. Tune up the ‘ol air guitar….you’ll definitely feel this one.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE:www.alestrada.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Wahz Up!

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