Joe Stump offers up an insight into the inspiration behind the tracks on his new album "Virtuostic Vendetta"

Chasing the Dragon
A fast classically influenced speed metal opus. I always have at least one or twoof these types of tracks on all my solo records. It contains some cool European power metal riffage, a very strong melody and a bunch of inspired neo-classical playing.

Pistol Whipped
A very heavy track, blending more thrash metal and heavier elements with some sinister melodic playing and European shredding.

The Dance of Kashani
An epic style eastern style piece, my ode to Rainbow's "Gates of Babylon" if you will. Ritchie Blackmore's one of my biggest influences guitar-wise and I`m channelling quite abit of his vibe on this track.

Fire and Brimstone
An Yngwie/Bach/Paganini inspired neo-classical barnburner. I've had tunes of this type on my other records but this one could be the pinnacle of my neo-classical playing. There`s a few tips of the hat to Yngwie's classic "Far Beyond the Sun" in there as well.

The Beacon
One of the strongest ballads I`ve ever composed, a very Gary Moore-ish inspired tune. The melody is really nice and I was very locked in and inspired when I recorded the long outro solo.

Blackmore`s Boogie
The title says it all, a full-on, balls out Blackmore induced fret-fryer, taking many of the ideas and techniques I've gotten thru listening to Ritchie and putting my own spin on them. His great influence on me can be heard quite evidently all over this record on many of the tracks. What can I say you can't get any cooler than RB.

Old School Throwdown
This one's of course all about my Jimi influence with some Robin Trower and Frank Marino thrown in as well. I love those guys and that type of playing. A lot of people aren`t aware of this side of my playing but I always have at least a few retro-types of thing on my records.

Allegro #2 in A Minor
Another classically influenced track containing some fairly intricate playing and Paganini influenced arpeggios, with a cool heavy Phrygian section at the end that`s got some fairly evil riffage going.

Trigger Happy
I don't know where this one came from imagine Billy Gibbons and Blackmore after quite a few espressos.

Symphonic Pandemonium
A solo type of violin style classically influenced piece. The guitar is taking the part of the lead violin and the orchestrated parts accompany it.

The Witching Hour
A dark, evil, gothic tune with a sininster haunting melody, the title speaks for itself. I love playing over these types of tracks. One of my favourite Yngwie tunes is "Black Star", that first Rising Force record still remains the benchmark of that type of playing and he's still the king . I`m obviously channelling that and there's a small quote from the actual Black Star solo in the solo outro section.

Strat Sorcery
When people hear this tune they'll immediately think Hendrix, you know "Little Wing", "Axis Bold As Love", "Castles Made of Sand" etc. And I am dipping into those Jimi chordal ideas, but the main influence of this tune is from the Blackmore classic "Catch the Rainbow". I`m drawing heavily from that on the extended outro solo and many other section of the tune.