Released on Gazochtahagen Records in 2001
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) “Malefic Influence” –This track opens with a very laid back melodic guitar
lead scale. The song kicks in with a very solid heavy metal arrangement. From
the opening vocal line the listener can hear that David has many talents. I
really enjoyed the way the drummer incorporated the double bass drum pattern on
this track. As far as the drum sound goes I have not heard a sound this huge
since the eighties. The chorus is very melodic and arranged in a very simple
fashion. The musical arrangement really brings the drums upfront. The solo is
made up of two parts, the first is very laid back and melodic, while the second
is very intense and in-your-face sounding. The second have of the solo at times
also sounds like it was done with twin guitars in a very Tesla style.
2.) “Governmental Brainwash” –This track opens with a huge Vinnie Moore type
intro. The vocals of the pre-verse are turned down and very over shadowed by
the music. The vocals of the verse are also arranged in this fashion and after
giving it a second listen they have a very duet style to them. After the verse
there is a real small Indian sound guitar/keyboard arrangement. At times if you
are not listening to this song through a well balanced stereo you will miss a
lot of real cool small patterns. There is no solo.
3.) “Crazy Dream” –This track opens with a real cool clean electric guitar
arrangement. When the full band kicks the track in the song has a very
seventish feel to it. Vocally the track really shows David’s vocal ability.
There are a couple small harmonizing sections within the vocal arrangement that
really set the song off. The solo is very laid back and grooves.
4.) “ We Just Don’t Care”-This track kicks off with a drum roll and a blistering
lead guitar scale. The musical arrangement gives the track a very late
seventies metal feel to the song. The lyric arrangement of the chorus has a
huge hook within them. The track also showcases a very big keyboard solo.
5.) ”Picking Up the Pieces”-This track opens with out door sound effects. When
the main guitar riff of the intro kicks in, it reminded me a little of older
Krokus. The vocal arrangement is very laid back and melodic. After the first
verse there is a small lead scale. After the chorus the song changes rhythm for
the bridge, this is classic song writing at it’s best. The main solo is very
intense and at times has a K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton feel to it. The main
solo is also very short and even though it is short it is very effective.
6.) “Suzy Homerecker”-This track opens with a classic metal intro. During the
intro there is a small lead scale type pattern located at the end of the guitar
riff of each bar. The vocal arrangement of this track really shows David’s
vocal ability. The solo for this track is short and kind of abstract. I was
real impressed with the Rob Halford vocal style at the end of the song.
7.) “I’ve Been Told”-This track opens with a very intense musical intro. The
main body of the song has some classic double bass drum patterns within the
musical arrangement. At times through the first verse the lyrical arrangement
has a very ‘Stray Cats’ feel to them. After the first the arrangement changes
to a very eighties style melodic metal pattern. During this rhythm change there
are a couple real strange but very cool guitar riffs. The song was short and
had no solo.
8.) “A Matter of Time”-This track opens with a classic eighties metal intro. It
has everything but a lead scale. The vocal arrangement keeps the same eighties
feel has the intro. At times through the chorus the arrangement has a seventies
arena rock sound to it. So right off the bat you have all these influence and
different styles of music at once. The song is short and instead of having a
solo David incorporates a little lead scale, minor solo underneath the last
chorus.
As a hard rock fan compared to David’s first release, “Malefic Influence”
runs circles around it. As a musician I got off on the first one a lot more.
David is a great writer and arranger not to mention excellent guitarist.
And “Malefic Influence” has quickly because one of the best releases I have
reviewed this year. If your into melodic hard rock than this is a must have.