If you happened to be growing up during the late 1980's and were either a guitar player or a guitar fan, this was a very exciting time. The "Ibanez guitar era" was just beginning and helped launch a guitar revolution spawned by Yngwie Malmsteen and Ibanez guru's, Steve Vai & Joe Satriani. The sick talents of players like Richie Kotzen, Greg Howe, Blues Saraceno, Vinnie Moore, Frank Gambale, Paul Gilbert and Tony MacAlpine were all unleashed to the world during this time. The late '80's sent players from all around the world back into the guitar shed's for countless hours of string skipping and sweep arpeggio practice.
Enter 2007 and Italian guitar slinger, Massimo Izzizzari. Flat out, the guy can play!! Massimo's new CD, Unstable Balance is an instrumental guitar fan's dream. Entirely written, recorded, produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Massimo himself, this is an obvious labor of love. Part guitar rock, part funk, part jazz fusion, and always melodic, Unstable Balance is a great mixture of styles all done equally well. The songs all have a smooth and easy flow to them and Massimo finds a way to bring a constant groove and a signature flair into each song. That, accompanied with a great guitar tone, nasty legato chops, and killer vibrato, make this CD and Massimo Izzizzari both worth listening to again and again.
CD opener, "Unstable Balance" is a funky shredder, both in Massimo's flawless technique and the song itself. It's an '80's fusion/shredder in the MacAlpine or Greg Howe vibe! Funky and jazzy songs are all over this CD; take a listen to "Take It Or Leave It." It shows the range and depth that Massimo's songwriting is capable of. Kind of like Satriani meets Prince. Very soulful. The melodic detail on each and every song is overwhelming and simply awe inspiring. The way that Massimo is able to be so lyrical and expressive on each song makes you even forget that the songs are totally instrumental.
Unstable Balance features 10 songs that are just fun to listen to. Each including jaw dropping guitar pyrotechnics, soulful and funky melodies and an excellent blend of musical styles that make it hard to classify. Massimo Izzizzari is another in the ever growing stable of excellent guitarists from around the world that Lion Music has been able to snatch up. Unstable Balance is a great display of talent with a fresh take on the guitar instrumental.
Track Listing
1. Unstable Balance
2. Access Denied
3. Wordgame
4. Television Man
5. Freeze Frame
6. The Alchemist
7. Violation Of Privacy
8. Take It Or Leave It
9. The Enchanted Forest
10. Teresa
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