We've probably said it here on Sea of Tranquility more times than we want to admit over the years, but the whole 'instrumental guitar album' genre has been riddled with below average releases for quite some time, and it's rare that something comes out that really knocks our socks off. Now, I've never heard of Canadian guitarist Warren Robert before, but he's been playing around the scene for the last 20+ years, and his latest solo outing Music From the Void is pretty damn good, catching my ear from the opening notes of "Truth and Untruth". Though he's obviously influenced by Uli Jon Roth, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen and the like, and offers up here a brew of heavy metal, orchestral prog, and neo-classical, but thankfully Music From the Void is not an endless shred fest and delivers some catchy, memorable, and truly bombastic tunes.
First off, yes, this guy can flat out play. "The Scroll of the Void" and "Three Mysteries" show that Robert can fire off a plethora of classically inspired runs and meaty blues riffs pretty damn seamlessly, and house them within memorable instrumetal songs. "Zanshin" is quite majestic, with tasty guitar melodies and mounds of orchestral keyboards (which Robert handles as well), and for an example of all-out shred, there's the rampaging "The Killing Sword", complete with sizzling wah-wah vibes and lightning runs. The guitarist shows his sense of restraint on the more atmospheric and proggy numbers "Two Skies" and "Mountain and Sea", and goes full bore into symphonic, orchestral metal on the epic "Myoyo". I'm reminded of Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine's debuts back in the 80's with "Five Spheres", as Robert perfectly mixes amazing chops with catchy hooks for a dazzling display, something both those players did so well when they first burst on the scene. I even hear a bit of Joe Satriani and Gary Moore on the tasty "Mind of No Mind".
so, let's just say that Music From the Void was more than a pleasant surprise. Warren Robert is a gifted and talented guitar player who has plenty to offer, and those into highly enjoyable guitar based instrumental albums would be well advised to seek this one out.
Track Listing
1. Truth and Untruth 5:41
2. The Scroll of the Void 2:28
3. Three Mysteries 2:50
4. Zanshin 4:38
5. Two Skies 4:21
6. The Killing Sword 3:54
7. Mountain and Sea 3:08
8. Myoyo 7:51
9. The Quiescent Sword 3:21
10. Five Spheres 4:32
11. Mind of No Mind 3:33
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