LION MUSIC - the progressive, neoclassical & hard rock label

Borislav Mitic is a virtuoso guitarist hailing from Montreal, Canada. He was born in Belgrade, Serbia where he first picked up the guitar at the age of 11. In the beginning, he was inspired by artists such as Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix and Michael Schenker among many others. Borislav was self-taught and honed his craft by learning from the records of his musical heroes.

He progressed very quickly and by the age of 18 was already considered the hottest new guitar talent in his country. It was in this period that Borislav started to write and record his first instrumental compositions influenced by classical music as well as by the works of top guitarists of the era such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

During the next couple of years, Borislav formed his own band and had many live and TV performances as well as radio broadcasts which all led to the recording of his first instrumental solo album titled "Fantasy". His display of perfect command over the instrument and stellar songwriting on that album cemented his legacy as the greatest modern Serbian guitar virtuoso. Then came the Balkan wars of the 90s...

In 1997, Borislav sent some of his guitar works to the legendary US producer Mike Varney who is the owner of Shrapnel Records known for discovering players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert... to name a few. To Borislav's surprise Varney called him back telling him that he was so impressed by what he had heard that he decided to make the effort of bringing Borislav from Serbia to North America by offering him a record deal. Borislav was also given the opportunity to co-write and play on the debut solo album of the singer John West (Artension, Royal Hunt). Unfortunately due to some US visa issues regarding the troubled situation in Borislav's home country this collaboration did not happen.

In 1998, Borislav signs with Shrapnel records and in doing so becomes the first Serbian rock musician ever to get a recording contract with a US label. He then relocates to North America for easier working conditions where he starts preparations and pre-production work on his debut album for Shrapnel. At the same time, Borislav is contacted by the legendary singer Phil Mogg (UFO) with a tempting offer to fill in the shoes of Michael Schenker and co-write a new album. Sadly, due to the obligations regarding his solo effort Borislav regretfully could not commit to this collaboration and left the spot to other guitarists waiting in line.

In 1999, Borislav's solo album hits the stores worldwide and was welcomed by guitar fans and critics alike as a breath of fresh air on a music scene flooded with various “corporate quasi music”. Unfortunately lacking sufficient support and promotion by the label, the album fell short of Borislav's expectations but still established a cult status among the rock guitar community. With a growing reputation as a leading young talent Borislav scores endorsement deals with ESP guitars, Dean Markley strings, Maxon, Guyatone effects once again becoming the first Serbian artist to achieve such a feat.

Alas, in spite of the initial success, the sad news of looming war disaster in his fatherland throw Borislav off balance personally and artistically and lead him to a period of personal questioning and introspection. After a year of inactivity he gets approached by the virtuoso keyboard player Vitalj Kuprij with an offer to make a duo album which Borislav accepts but in the end the job falls into the hands of more known guitarist Tony Macalpine.

In 2000, Borislav re-releases his first album “Fantasy” making it available to fans worldwide. Soon after that, Borislav prepares another new instrumental project but Shrapnel Records suggested that a vocal oriented album would better fit the current music market situation.

Mike Varney introduces Borislav to Las Vegas based singer Chris Logan (MSG, Jake E. Lee) and the two start a long distance collaboration sending demos back and forth. Borislav invests another year writing the new vocal songs for this project only to find out that Chris Logan would be joining MSG in the studio and a subsequent tour with Michael Schenker and not him. In an attempt to salvage the vocal album, Borislav hooks up with Montreal-based singer Eric Forrest (Voivod, E-Force) but after some initial collaboration Eric Forrest decides to move to France in pursuit of his own solo career in a style of music he was more accustomed to thus leaving the Borislav's vocal project on an indefinite "on-hold" status.

In 2004, Borislav gets invited to play a series of concerts in his home country Serbia for the first time since his departure to North America. In spite of his long absence, it turned out as a success and was a great emotional reunion with his Serbian fans who never forgot him. He was also fascinated to find out that some national radio programs (like radio 202) enlisted his songs in a permanent rotation.

Borislav then decides that he would return to the instrumental music path once again but finds that the situation in the music industry has changed dramatically. Due to the influx of Internet technology/culture and the rise of global illegal file sharing download the very existence of smaller artists and independent labels became a hard struggle now. To meet these new challenges, Borislav decided to build his own recording facility in order to cut future studio expenses while gaining more artistic freedom to create at his own discretion.

An invitation comes again from Vitalij Kuprij for a guest appearance on the album "Forward And Beyond" (Lion Music) and Borislav plays one of his finest solos in a duel exchange with Vitalij on a song "Message Of Hope". Other guest guitarists on the album include Michael Romeo (Symphony X), George Bellas, etc.

In 2007, Borislav collaborates more closely with Japanese endorsing companies Maxon and Guyatone making demo presentations of some of their FX product line. He even gets on "advisory board" regarding sound design of new Maxon overdrive pedal OD9 pro+ alongside Scott Henderson, Lyle Workman (Sting), Adam Dukiewitz (Killswitch Engage), Chris Traynor (Helmet). This was a big honor since Maxon was the original designer of the overdrive tube screamer pedals which many legendary players (like SRV) used to forge their historic signature sounds.

Borislav makes an appearance on the 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, California as a demonstrator for the US guitar effects distributor Godlyke. He also gets invited to guest on Uli Jon Roth Sky Academy and US tour but was unable to participate because of conflicting schedules. An invitation comes for a guest appearance on a progressive Metal project called "Expedition Delta" where he contributes two solos alongside other guests like Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery).

Borislav’s songs appear on two Shrapnel Records compilations “This is Shredding, Vol.2” and “Shrapnel’s Super Shredders : Neoclassical” published in 2009 alongside Richie Kotzen, Tony Macalpine, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, Greg Howe and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal.

Borislav decides that the moment was right for a new aggressive and uncompromising Metal instrumental album that his fans have been waiting for. He shelves all the old music works and focuses in 2009 on writing, producing and engineering entirely new instrumental songs that will become his arguably best work yet - a concept album titled "The Absolute". One song from the new album titled "Hidden" gets played on ESP Guitars website for few months as a "premiere" introduction to the album.

Borislav chooses to release this new masterpiece through the currently leading progressive metal label Lion Music known for working with artists like Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck), Joe Stump, Richie Kotzen , Vitalij Kuprij, Chris Poland among others. "The Absolute" was released on December 4th 2009 and delivers what all his fans were waiting for - a relentless guitar attack that should satisfy the musical appetites of any true Metal guitar fan!


	Borislav Mitic The Absolute