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QUINTESSENCE METAL WEBZINE
presents
~FRET-ESSENTIAL COMPILATION CD #1~

THE ARTIST & THE DISC
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   "Fret-Essential Compilation CD #1" is the first compilation from Quintessence Metal Webzine. Or more accurately it's the first collection compiled by Wayne Klinger the man behind the webzine. There are 15 tracks by 15 of the planets best independent guitarists that take you a full 360°.  From metal to progressive rock to blues rock to neo-classical to even bulgarian influences, this CD presents a new surprise around every corner.

   Traditionally I'm not a real big fan of guitarist compilations.Primarily because they seldom feature the best, only the most commercially accessible. And they almost certainly have a general overall theme stylistically making for a rather bland listening experience. The "Fret-Essential" CD, I'm glad to say is the exception to the rule. Not only are there 15 different players, their heads are in 15 different places. So you don't sit through a bunch of guys who all sound generic, there are no clones here. Nobody sounds like satriani or yngwie or any of the too often mimicked players.
   The songs go from finely detailed landscapes to raw savage power to mentally challenging to physically abusive. This CD will beat the hell out of you, only to turn and soothe you in preparation for another beating. But don't get the idea this is a speed session without content. Yes, there's an off the meter note density on this disc, but every player here puts the song writing first, with a close eye on melody. Even the unearthing of all that is wicked on the forceful song "Black Inside" by Tom Kopyto has a very nice melody adding beauty to a very un-pretty attack.

   This collection became an instant favorite partially due to it having more flavors than Ben and Jerry's, including some very exotic flavors. The opening song "Kara Kum" is self described as "where Western guitar sounds meet Bulgarian folk melodies and rhythms". There's a pounding thrash influence on "Twisted Metal", "Submarine Limousine" and the heaviest guitar instrumental that I've ever heard, "Black Inside".  There's radio friendly rock, "Rebel Hot", "Inside Out" and "Alien Fetus" are friendly, but way over the top with a venomous bite. "Lexical Gap" is a ferocious jazz shred attack that boggles the mind. What CD shred guitar CD would be complete without neo-classical, the most aggressive and beautiful style of shred when done correctly, as it is here. "Firestorm" qualifies with it's classic neo-classical style. And "Opus 2" mixes the neo-classical with a real rock foundation, giving the genre an updated sound. I  was surprised to find "Celibate Funk", a smokin' texas style blues rocker that absolutely explodes among this collection of metal madmen. But this just attests to the fact that this is genuinely a diverse journey into rock and metal guitar. Some of the most powerful moments weren't the loudest or the fastest. Songs like "The Journey", "Carpe Diem", "Fallout at 2114" and "Distant Bliss" use tasteful and deeply emotional playing with intricate compositions to create a more subtle but just as dynamic force.

   It seems fitting that Quintessence Webzine would put out the quintessential shred guitar CD. There is almost always a player or two that you figure could have been left off the set. But this collection is so perfect and well balanced that the removal of even one of the songs/players would make it less of an experience. It's the sum of all the parts, and none is less important than the other. With no weak songs/players and a perfectly laid out (song order) CD featuring the cream of the elite crop, two questions come to mind. First, when is compilation #2 coming out? And second, how can a compilation this perfect be beat? I guess I'll just have to wait.

*note: Unfortunately we lost John Sullivan, one of the great players on the CD. He passed away on 11-15-03 serving the United States in it's war on terrorism. A big loss for the guitar community and a devastating loss for his family..Whether your a fan of fine guitar music or freedom, show your appreciation and support by donating! donate to the John R. Sullivan Memorial Fund

 " THE BEST HEAVY ROCK/METAL GUITARISTS COMPILATION EVER! IT BLOWS AWAY THOSE BIG NAME GUITAR MAGAZINE COMPILATIONS WITH ITS SHEER VIRTUOSITY AND DIVERSITY. A HEAVY ROCK/METAL COLLECTION FROM THE MOST DANGEROUS AND TECHNICALLY EXPRESSIVE INDEPENDENT GUITARISTS KNOWN". (*note: I have a bunch  of collections from the likes of Guitar Magazine, Guitar For The Practicing Musician, etc.....and I found that they make wonderful coasters, so don't just throw them away!)

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THE TRACKS

if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about (and who does?)....check out the samples below.
And read my comments while listening to a streaming 30 second sample of all songs. flash required
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The CD opens with
 #1 Dave Beegle/Fourth Estate "KARA KUM" - A stimulating rocker with a very unique flavor. Their own description of this song, "where Western guitar sounds meet Bulgarian folk melodies and rhythms" says it all. I would have to say a very ethnic sounding song with a heavy rock influence. At first listen I was sure this guy was from overseas and was influenced by American metal. But Dave is from Colorado, and not some distant land. This shows the devotion and skill of this diverse and dynamic player. A unique journey that becomes an epic adventure....
 #2 Michael Knight "TWISTED METAL"  - A cut throat attack with a thrash attitude drives this insane to astonishing Metal track. It has a very wicked and dark mood, with some certified nowhere to run, nowhere to hide Evil shred. Twisted indeed!!...........
 #3 Ray DeTone "THE JOURNEY BEGINS" - A tasteful and expressive (almost forceful) song that goes through several changes. Each creating a new vision and mood, making for an interesting and exciting journey. An aural landscape that frees the imagination......with force!
 #4 Tom Kopyto "BLACK INSIDE" - Whoooaa!! An absolutely blistering Metal attack executed by a genuinely dangerous player! I had to crank this way the f*ck up!! This track pushes the shred and aggression factor way off the scale. All you so called hardcore players pay attention to how he cleverly mixes real melody with physically punishing, and certainly life shortening aggression. Making the beating that you are about to receive less abrasive, and still lethal!
 #5 The Rob Sbar Noesis "LEXICAL GAP" - Call the Jazz Asylum and tell them there's a maniac on the loose. This song blew me away with it's funky foundation and molten shred. After cranking it up for the previous track I had to crank it even louder on this track. This guys dancing the fine line between genius and insanity, and beauty and brutality. Rob is a technical assassin with sniper like accuracy.
 #6 GasHead "SUBMARINE LIMOUSINE" - A dark metal vibe and a nice fat sound  drive this song. There's beautifully executed, but very dangerous shred attacks that just might leave you for dead! It's progressive heavy metal song with a classical influence, but not a neo-classical song. It starts off sounding like classic metal, and ends up showing what could be the future of progressive heavy metal instrumental guitar. You can hear the diverse influences of this player.
 #7 Nicola Fassi "REBEL HOT" - A melodic fast rocker with a totally radio friendly sound. Sort of Gary Hoeyish at first but you quickly realize this guys got his own thing, and it's running wild. Move over Joe Satu..what's your name, there's a new king of accessible rock in town.
 #8 Dave Villano "CARPÉ DEIM PART 1" - Although one of the more calming songs it's still among the most powerful. A beautiful song that is saturated with an almost euphoric atmosphere. With it's many different textures this track is an aural landscape that frees the mind and challenges the imagination.
 #9 John Sullivan "INSIDE OUT" - A very smooth rock tune played in a classic way. With a surprise shred attack out of nowhere to show that this players capable of ripping your head off at will, but uses it as an accent rather than a focus. Adding to the dynamics of the attack. A very tasteful and skilled player!
 #10 Rare Blend "FALLOUT AT 2114" - I can't explain it but this track all but brought me to my knees with it's story and unbridled emotion. It's like this guy's been reading my mail, and knows all my deepest emotions, and is playing to them. A very soulful player with a very articulate vocabulary, and I hear every word and feel every note. Flawless!!
 #11 Art Faccio "FIRE STORM" - A dark neo-classical shred-athon (minus all the cliches') with a triumphant vibe. The CD returns to over the top shred with this great player. A shred monster who seems to just get bigger as the song progresses. Oh Yea! This is how I like it.
 #12 David Neil Cline Band "ALIEN FETUS" - A smokin' radio friendly song with a pedal to the metal vibe, that takes off at the opening and just never let's off the juice! And get this, there's nothing from the Satriani book of rock. Playing molten radio friendly rock nowadays without borrowing from the book is hard. But David does just that with this very heavy but very accessible burner......
 #13 Chaz DePaolo "CELIBATE FUNK" - A funky bluesy rock tune that features some of the best wah rock attacks since Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush). Kind of a Sly Stone meets Stevie Ray groove. I hope this funk isn't really celibate. Something this good has got to multiply.....
 #14 Sean Mercer "OPUS 2" - An absolutely beautiful song! A beautifully powerful song! This song has a rich classical influence giving it a regal even dramatic vibe. With the title Opus 2 you know this track goes through a few changes. This track make me close my eyes in solace and clench my fists in aggression at the same time. Beautifully Aggressive Man!!!
 #15 Jim Morris "DISTANT BLISS" - Oh! Man! The perfect track to say farewell to a musical journey that was magnificent to say the least. This track even has a melancholy vibe of Goodbye. With a classical influence and none of the over the top note counts that usually accompany the neo-classical genre, you get all the beauty without the brutality.

Have your CD reviewed by Wayne Klinger, the man behind the "QUINTESSENCE" Metal Webzine. He has a history in Metal dating back to the 80's. Starting Wrethed Productions, Wretched Corpse Magazine, both promoting the hardcore scene. And then onto Halfspeed Magazine which included instrumental guitarists. Ultimately becoming "QUINTESSENCE" and hitting the internet in '99. He has several different styles and genres and catagories, so chances are your CD will fit in.