This week's audio engagements:
George Lynch: Seamless
This is unbelievably George Lynch's debut instrumental album. 1993's Sacred Groove doesn't count because that was quasi-instrumental. In fact, it's deemed as a solo adventure more than an instrumental outing per se. Lynch is an incredible player, I still hold him in high regards. If you break down his technicalities, his wide stretch legato is indeed his trademark appeal. Guitar heroes, however you understand this classification, tend to flex their technical muscles in their instrumental showcase. In Seamsless, you have less of that perspective & more song-like arrangements. Neal Schon & Steve Stevens are two other such proponents among others. Yes, they shred when it matters, on other deliverable moments, they keep the continuity in tact.
Marduk: Heaven shall burn... When we are gathered
That cover art is definitely acquired taste but the music on board is a solid serving of black metal. The guitar tones are still the razor sharp, I'm-on-a-budget kinda tone in the true spirit of the genre. When I re-listen to this release in throwback moments, I tend to forget how real & intentional the ones of early black metal movements were compared to the current production standards. Things can get too polished in this aspect all in the name of appeal. Seeing how Dimmu Borgir, Opeth & Enslaved, among others, established themselves as good-sounding extreme metal acts who are successful in penetrating the appeal aspect of this genre, we need to remind ourselves the philosophy behind the music when it all started. Yes, we can polish things up when it comes to technicalities & production but we must not lose the vision in exchange for mass appeal.
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