HARDWARES

Mike Martin is a blast of a guitar treasure, as anyone who has seen Fozzy could attest heartily. So it’s no surprise that he’s created a gorgeous instrumental guitar album at a level arguably reached only by John 5 and Steve Vai, the latter – along with the fluid, new agey side of Eddie Van Halen – of which is felt all over this plush, tone-rich disc. The title of the album refers to Mike being the second of five children (and also to Stark Trek character 7 of 9), and that is gleaned from the note on the opening track. Mike goes on to write elucidating bits on all the songs. As the album progresses, Satriani comes to mind as well, sort of in the joyous, sinewy quality to the soloing, as well as the hummability (check out ‘Living The Good Life’). With ‘Epiphany’ you’re also in that yearning Satriani/Vai place, the expansive drum groove helping drive the piece home. What’s great testimony to Martin as an artist is that he doesn’t shred on this record, despite (well, this is my opinion) being pretty much the most explosive, fastest, musical, and intelligent of structure shred king I’ve ever seen. Grade-wise, there’s a hard ceiling to a minimally utilitarian record like this for me, and Mike hits that… See www.mikemartin.net for more, ‘cos, unfortunately, Fozzy’s looking a little hiatus-y.