Elmo Karjalainen - Age of Heroes

2017 – KC Sound

By Phillip Smith; Mar. 25, 2017

Age of Heroes, the fourth full length solo album from Finnish guitarist extraordinaire Elmo Karjalainen continues to push the envelope of rock when it comes to electric guitar instrumentals.  For influences, Karjalainen mentions the guitar-greats, like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pat Metheny and Jeff Beck.   

Karjalainen presents speed metal at its best in “A Meeting of the Gods (And This Guy)”. Guest guitarists Janne Nieminen and Emil Pohjlainen, 2016 winners of the Guitar Gods Competition, kick in some extraordinary solos for this shred-fest.  Called “King of the Keys” by Guitar World Magazine, keyboardist Derek Sherinian(Planet X, Black Country Communion) give a magnificent performance in “The Colour of Greed”, amid thunderous crashing drums and melodic adrenalin-infused guitar.  The hypnotically driving rhythm of “A Fertile Discussion” clutches on to me with a tight grip. 

A feeling of tranquility washes over me when I hear the ambient “Chikken Noodul”. It’s quite a soothing listen, as is “Breathe”.  There’s something galactic about “Blue Eyes”. The song seems to shoot me into the cosmos with each listen.

Karjalainen wears his passion for music on his sleeve, playing every piece with immaculate precision. This album is a must for guitar enthusiasts.

---

Warbringer - War Without End : From the Archives #14

2008 – Century Media

By Phillip Smith; 

Coming face to face with the realization of just how close to midnight the hands on the doomsday clock just are, Warbringer relays the message matter-of-factly via headlines of their own on their newer CD, War Without End.   Impressively, guitarists Adam Carroll and John Laux aggressively create their wall of sound for lead vocalist, John Kevill to perch himself on top of and scream.  Drummer, Ryan Bates is no slacker either.  He plays with ferocious intent, pounding out crafted beats with near-perfect precision. 

War Without End is extreme thrash at its finest.  I latched on quickly to cuts, “Total War“, “Systematic Genocide“, and “Hell on Earth”.   The cut I favor above the rest is “Beneath the Waves” for the melodic interludes and animalistic growls from Kevill.

Guitars screamed in “Instruments of Torture”.  This is a very dark and very cool cut.  It would fit in nicely on a soundtrack the SAW film series, with such lyrics as “Cries of torment echo from the grave.  Satan laughs, your soul cannot be saved.”

The best concept song award goes to “Shoot to Kill”.  Zombies are rising from the grave, and the orders are “Fire at will. Yeah, Shoot to Kill”.  Thrash and zombies, I love the combination.  It works great. 

For the thrash fans, this CD is very much recommended.  

* written 01/17/10  and originally appeared on FoundryMusic.com