BUMBLEFOOT-"...returns"

After the disbanded of SOA, guitarist BF returns with an album that shows off not onl;y his abilities (already well known) but also his influences and diversity.

 From fusion country he moves softly and easily always on the melodic side of the things but with heaviness when needed ever present. He can shred , he can use low tuning and distortion but hsi sense of melody is his major asset. Accompanied by drummer Kyle Hughes and  appearances by Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, andBen Karas he manages fusion, electronica, progressive metal, country and all in between blended in an amalgam of enjoyable listening. Far beyond the shredding and progressive metal limitations, like Brian Beller at his own personal work Bumblefoot, challenges the listener. 

Usually not in the expected way. Its not the speed of playing ,the complexity of timing, the volume, its the musicality, the sensitivity and the landscapes he creates that make his album stand out among the recent guitar masters. If you would like a comparison, he is similar in the way of thinking with Marty Friedman and Steve Vai who participates at the fusion porg/monster of "Monstruoso", versatile, multi influenced and daring to cross borders without leingt the traditional guitar sound lose its weight over the newer,different elements. He manages to move from the progressive metal with fusion elements in the opening "Simon in space" to the heavy,groovy progressive with the elettronica glimpses and the dominating basslines. Then he surprises everyone in "Moonshine Hootenanny" a country flavored prog metal piece with bajo and guitar picking setting the atmosphere for some Appalchian metal feast.

 But Bumblefoot loves the contemporary and "Rojo" is a modern metal piece, with a constructively repeating demolishing riff , kinda like NIN wit a more lectronic sound. A left turn on 'Cintaku" with its new wave, pop 80s influences , a trip down the nostalgia lane, mixing heavy guitars and pop melodies.While in "Cinco" we have the progressive version of the "Love boat" theme with some pop elements.. Can the man keep up surprising, check "Once in forever" a slow, jazzy piece with great melodic lines and Brian May enhancing the melody,"Andalusia" with its Spanish flavor and the flaming influences  and let yourself meander in the East with "Anveshana", where the Indian Gods let the India spice flavor the piece accompanied by Guthire Gowan, a song that p(l)ays tribute to one of his main influences, Jimi Hendrix. 

So overall ,"...returns." has everything, a master guitar player, inspiration and great compositions, an album to let you travel through time and senses.

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