Joe Stump returns with
a new blistering solo album just as he announces joining the legendary
Alcatrazz with ex-Rainbow/MSG singer Graham Bonnet replacing Yngwie
Malmsteen and Steve Vai!
The
American shred guitar legend returns with his newest effort Symphonic
Onslaught which can only be described as one fierce slab of
guitar
driven metal , the anticipated follow up to his critically
acclaimed
2015 release The Dark Lord Rises.
Symphonic Onslaught contains everything you’ve come to
expect from a
Joe Stump solo release : jaw dropping technical shred guitar
pyrotechnics, dark classically influenced compositions containing
strong melodies and killer riffs as well as the seamless blending of
various schools of hard rock and metal .
Once again this is another release that’ll appeal to both guitar
enthusiasts as well as fans of guitar driven metal.
Whether it’s the Hendrix meets Blackmore old school hard rock of
Stratocastle or the black metal meets thrash meets power metal
viciously heavy Facemelting Devestation or the neo-classically fueled
Hit The Deck , Stump continues to proudly wear his influences on his
sleeve .
To those of you in guitar and metal circles Joe Stump should need no
introduction. The Shredlord has been raining down full throttle
neo-classical/speed metal since Guitar Dominance was released over 25
years ago. He was named by Guitar One as one of the top 10
fastest
shredders of all time. By Guitar World as one of the 50 fastest
players of all time and by Guitarist magazine as one of the top 20
shredders of all time . He has appeared in countless guitar and
metal
based publications, fanzines and webzines worldwide .
He has toured the world as both a solo artist and with metal bands Joe
Stump’s Tower Of Babel, Joe Stump’s Reign of Terror and HolyHell. Also
Joe has just been announced as the new guitarist in the relaunching of
Alcatrazz alongside legendary vocalist Graham Bonnet and original
keyboard player Jimmy Waldo. A new Alcatrazz studio record as
well as
a world tour will follow. Joe’s also an Associate Professor at
the
esteemed Berklee College Of Music where he’s been the metal/shred
guitar specialist for the last 25 years . Symphonic
Onslaught marks
Joe’s 11th solo release and once again the Shredlord continues to raise
his game in every aspect.
The King of Shred – Metal Rules
The Dark Lord Rises is filled with technical brilliance and inspiration
from guitar icons Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen –
Vintage Guitar Magazine
Blistering full speed acrobatic soloing ,unadulterated Neo-Classical
Metal in the great Swedish fashion – Metal Temple
How would you describe the new album musically/lyrically?
Musically it's a logical follow up to my last record The Dark Lord
Rises and contains all the aspects you'd expect to hear outa one of my
records-- Killer riffs, strong melodies, dark classically influenced
themes and sections, as well as the blending of various schools of hard
rock and metal . There's neo-classical tracks, some
black/extreme/thrash/power metal type things as well as
Blackmore/Hendrix inspired old school hard rock things . And of course
tons of insane stupidly fast highly technical shredding.
What was the goal
with making this album?
I never have a specific goal while making a record , I'm always
playing, practicing and composing things whether it's instrumental or
vocal material and after I've got enough material collected it's gets
time to make another record.
Any specific
influences towards music or lyric subject?
I'm inspired by all kinds of forms of hard rock and metal in addition
to classical music . I mean I love all things Ritchie
Blackmore -Rainbow/Purple as well as the early Yngwie Alcatrazz and
Rising force records along with the Uli Roth era Scorpions . But I also
love listening to Bach, Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky as well as Accept or
Denner/Shermann and Rata Blanca so it all seeps in there and influences
me.
How have band
member changes affected the bands sound and dynamics i.e. what have the
new members brought to the band?
No I've had the same solo band for awhile now so my guys are great at
interpreting my stuff and I've always got everything completely
composed and arranged so making the record is quite efficient.
Please provide the
history of the album i.e. when writing began, recording etc.
I guess I started writing this one after the last one came out
and since my schedule is crazy busy between teaching , playing regional
shows and international touring I'd cut tracks and record whenever I
had windows of time available between everything else. Last year
I was working pretty much non-stop .
Joe Stump
The Dark Lord Rises
|
