After two new releases on Lion Music, plus contributions to tribute albums, James Byrd re-released his Crimes of Virtuosity. As the title implies, this is guitar rock that has been heard over and over since Malmsteen. So you would expect this to sound tired, and many of the songs have outlived their era, but there really are a few songs here that make the whole thing worthwhile.
"Heaven On Their Minds", from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar is strictly stunning. I can listen this to this over and over and just be taken away. "Metatron" has a solid hard rock feel and "Jane" is more than just your standard guitar ballad. On the other hand "Shot Down In Flames", "Storm King", and "Goodbye My Love" are so ordinary and bland that they break the flow of otherwise creative writing.
And that is the problem with James Byrd's Atlantis Rising, the fact that although billed as a band effort, it really is a one man show of guitar wanking, who's ideas work or don't work, leaving an uneven CD. Crimes Of Virtuosity is almost worth the purchase just for the highlights, which can be stunning, but you will find yourself hitting skip a few times during your listen.
Track Listing
1. Prelude In Sea
2. Metatron
3. Heaven On Their Minds
4. Shot Down In Flames
5. In My Darkest Hour
6. The Hunted Heretic
7. Jane
8. Get Free
9. Storm King
10. Bolero - No.46 Mvt. 3
11. Goodbye My Love
12. Going Home
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