EMPIRES OF EDEN: Songs of War and Vengeance

Produced by Stu Marshall

Released: 2009

Apart from the occasional release from people like Chris Brooks, Australia has been virtually unchartered territory for the shred album. This latest project from Paindivision's Stu Marshall goes some way to address the deficit, with what can only be described as a spectacular display of fretboard histrionics from some excellent metal guitarists.

To bring this vision to life, Marshall has gathered around him a virtual army of the region's metal talent that includes members of LORD, Vanishing Point, Argument Soul, Crimsonfire and Transcending Mortality. This provides some truly jaw-dropping moments on a pretty well-rounded album of heavy melodic metal infused with immense amounts of wrist-breaking lead guitar playing. It isn't just the shred that makes Songs of War and Vengeance a good album however, because as Marshall has shown in his other bands, he understands the craft of songwriting too.

In this area he's been assisted by three talented melodic metal vocalists in the shapes of Louie Gorgievski from Crimsonfire, ex-Transcending Mortality singer Mike Zoias and Chris Ninni, all of whom really show what they're made of here. Gorgievski's vocals were the only real highlight on his own band's album, and on Songs of War and Vengeance they are much better. Likewise, Zoias' gives a somewhat less self-conscious performance than previously. It's almost as if the epic nature of this album has caused everyone involved to really step out of their skins. Chris Porcianko of Vanishing Point offers the most understated contribution, but it makes for stunning contrast with the blazing solos from Marshall and Thundasteel's Ben Thomas that immediately precede it. Indeed, the guitar wrangling is insane: this is a primer for all budding shredders. The fret-blitzing from LORD duo Lord Tim and Mark Furtner is nuts, rivalling anything they've ever done, and "Fires of Torment" is loaded with some monster playing as Marshall vies for dominance with Akira Takada of Cerberus and Yoshiyaka Maruyama from Argument Soul.

As mentioned, Songs of War and Vengeance doesn't let melody and shred get in the way of heaviness or substance either. These songs would stand alone even without the ridiculous face-melting solos. If there is a criticism, some of the melodies seemed a bit recycled here and there and the final track didn't really grab me like the rest of the album, but overall Empires of Eden compares more than favourably with any melodic shredfest you can name.

1. Dawn of Fire
2. New Hope
3. Empires of Eden
4. The Reckoning
5. Through Eternity
6. Scars of Innocence
7. Dark Religion
8. Blood of an Angel
9. Fires of Torment
10. Black Endings/Echos of Oblivion

Rating: 89%

STU MARSHALL: Altered States

Produced by Stu Marshall

Released: 2007

Yesterday I reviewed a Dungeon album, and today I'm taking a listen to the solo album from that band's former guitarist Stu Marshall. Instrumental shred albums aren't high on my list of preferred listening. Guitarists can digest these things and then rave on for hours about sweeping and dive-bombing while everyone around them wonders why they're talking about domestic duties and Stukas, and I prefer fretboard wizardry within the constraints of well written and stuctured songs, rather than existing for its own sake. Therefore, Marshall's Altered States should ordinarily be sitting in the dark corner of my CD collection reserved for vapid wankfests like Onward and Malmsteen. The fact that it isn't says a lot.

Altered States kicks off with a track called "Kill or Be Killed", a fast, thrashy cut with a face-ripping riff. "City Nights" stays in metal territory and features the added bonus of Enter Twilight's Richie Hauberger adding his own jaw-dropping moves to Marshall's already considerably awe-inspiring string pulling. These two songs represent the more metallic side of Marshall's personality as the rest of the album explores other angles. Several of the pieces like "Can You Hear Me?" and "Juli's Song" have that laid-back Satriani-style feel about them and "Blind Faith" is a very nice slow, bluesy extended jam. Then there's "Goliath", the only track to feature Marshall's smooth rock vocals. This is a real stand-out that had me thinking of some of Gary Moore's heavier rock moments, with the soloing to go along with it.

While there is some insane playing in evidence, Marshall doesn't go all out to bludgeon his listeners with pure technique, repetition or speed. Instead, he can be languid and relaxed or drop into a steady groove and just rock. Guitarists will still be the ones to greet this album with most enthusiasm, but people who aren't musicians should get something worthwhile from it also.

1. Kill or be Killed
2. City Nights
3. Can You Hear Me?
4. Francois
5. Juli's Song
6. Northam Grove
7. Blind Faith
8. Goliath
9. Balloon Race
10. Sunday Afternoon (The Jam)
11. The Drunken Highland Fling

Rating: 69%