Fuck yes, Jeff Loomis!

[Soap]

Bill quit being such a fanboy and download it, you'll love it man.

[horns666]

Oh, You rotten bastids..I NEVER tried downloading in my fuggin' life.

OK, Soap, Jacksons Shred, or someone PLEASE post a link to songs..then someone tell me how I could burn a CDR copy with my Nero burner..

I WILL still buy the cd the day it comes out..I can't take it..I can't wait!!

I can't do it now..I'm busy at home..I'll be back latter!!

[Jacksons Shred]

Oh, You rotten bastids..I NEVER tried downloading in my fuggin' life.

OK, Soap, Jacksons Shred, or someone PLEASE post a link to songs..then someone tell me how I could burn a CDR copy with my Nero burner..

I WILL still buy the cd the day it comes out..I can't take it..I can't wait!!

I can't do it now..I'm busy at home..I'll be back latter!!

PM sent..Man..I feel almost guilty for making you crack.

I blame GodOfRhythm. :ROTF:

[horns666]

PM sent..Man..I feel almost guilty for making you crack.

I blame GodOfRhythm. :ROTF:

Yep..GOR did that on purpose!!!

Fucker..

I'll be back later doods..taking the kid out. He wants to go to GC!

[thetroy]

I blame GodOfRhythm. :ROTF:

[bibz]

You bastards!! I was being nice about it and not leaking to much info/hype so it wouldn't lead such fine angelic individuals into temptation
It's been in my car since too

Seriously tho, this album is fucking insane. Its metal because a huge stonking riff lights our fires. Its just as tasteless as perpetual burn too, its a guitar album ffs! Every part here has its place and I believe the structure and size of this album is up there with the best. It incorporates the virtuosity and diversity of loomis' playing, some see it as just a blur, those of us who can see through the speed runs get more from it. He does so much with the guitar, in the ambience and timbre of the songs, and it seems so effortless.

jacksons shred; funny you got the cacophany vibe from jato unit, thats the song guesting pat o'brien

Bottom line, theres no-one like him out there, and looads of people know it. Any minor, quiggly doubts Ive had in the past have been removed, rhoads-dime-loomis, the progression continues

[horns666]

You bastards!! I was being nice about it and not leaking to much info/hype so it wouldn't lead such fine angelic individuals into temptation
It's been in my car since too

Seriously tho, this album is fucking insane. Its metal because a huge stonking riff lights our fires. Its just as tasteless as perpetual burn too, its a guitar album ffs! Every part here has its place and I believe the structure and size of this album is up there with the best. It incorporates the virtuosity and diversity of loomis' playing, some see it as just a blur, those of us who can see through the speed runs get more from it. He does so much with the guitar, in the ambience and timbre of the songs, and it seems so effortless.

jacksons shred; funny you got the cacophany vibe from jato unit, thats the song guesting pat o'brien

Bottom line, theres no-one like him out there, and looads of people know it. Any minor, quiggly doubts Ive had in the past have been removed, rhoads-dime-loomis, the progression continues

AGREED ..+ a gagillion!! Nevermore is a true evolution of the Metal/shred continuum . They picked up the ball that bands like Meatallica, Queenryche, and Megadeth DROPPED during the mids 90's..and they ran with it..and kept fuggin' runnin' without looking back!!! They make those bands sound like fuggin' childs play IMO..then and now.

BIBZ... Hail Yesterday!

I wanna thank Soap and Nick for the link and assist. I may take Soap on his offer if I have any problems trying to burn a copy this weekend..thanks guys!!

[AfterForever]

Just heard the album.. What to say..

First of all, it's much more metal than I expected. It's like instrumental Nevermore with more solos. Double bass and everything haha. I expected more slower paced / less metal songs.. don't know why.

Secondly, there are some insane parts the guy sure can play!

[NextInLine]

I listened to the album a couple times also. Here are my thoughts:

First of all I'd like to state a couple things about Nevermore, because what Jeff has done is IMO related to his work on this album.

Nevermore was one of my fav. bands in early 2000s. Imo they topped with Dead Heart In a Dead World. Amazing album, one of my all time favs. Great songs, great vocals, great solos everything was done superb to the very small details. Once you reach that level your listeners start expecting that level songs/albums from you. So what I expected from Enemies of Reality and This Godless Endeavor was albums full of great songs (on all levels) maybe a couple fillers.

Enemies of Reality only had 2 great songs and a very good one, the rest was just mediocre. I rarely listen to that album, and Jeff's solos started to get "standardized" from that album. (so did Warrel's vocals) I don't know why but he started improvising a lot, caring much less for details and melody. Very same fast runs etc. This Godless Endeavor had much more songwise (much more modern approach with some great riffing) but the solos started to get even more standardized. The very same fast runs again and again, no attention to detail same melodies (same melodies a guitar player uses when he improvises) mediocre sweep picking etc..

Now we have his solo album and most of this album is "boring" imo. It has its very good moments and a couple great/incredible parts but not more than that.. To be able to write albums that will be remembered for a long time (like Perpetual Burn) you have to pay attention to all the details a lot. This album doesn't have that vibe. Most of the songs are badly structured (they do not evolve, do not go somewhere etc.) there are like 20 of the very same solo and you hear very similar (if not the same) fast runs numerous times. The most important thing is that the album doesn't have enough melodies that you won't hear on a random Jeff Loomis solo.. For an album to be great you have to have lots of unique melodies that will be remembered especially if that's an instrumental guitar album.. Or else you can't go much further than a basic shred album IMO

Finally everybody was speaking about this album as if it's going to take Perpetual Burn's place. It's not even close to it musically and it's not on par with it technically either imo

Besides all these, this is just his first solo album, I expect much more from his second and also from the next Nevermore album..

[GodOfRhythm]

Yep NextInLine's opinion is close to my own. I just don't see what's groundbreaking or even appealing about it. CD's like these are dime a dozen. I 'm kind of disappointed, I guess.

[kmanick]

I can't find this in any of the newsgroups would someone PM me where I can download it and check it out?

[petedz]

Yep NextInLine's opinion is close to my own. I just don't see what's groundbreaking or even appealing about it. CD's like these are dime a dozen. I 'm kind of disappointed, I guess.

I think "dime a dozen" is a bit unfair.

There's so much Cacophony on this album that Loomis almost completely disappears under his Friedman/Becker influences. Track by track:

Shouting Fire At A Funeral--lifts the clattering machine-like double bass drums and hyperactive didgeridoo riffing straight from the Nevermore catechism. Somewhat redeeming are the slower melodies, which really invoke Cacophony era Marty.
Opulent Maelstrom--more of the same. I'm torn. The lead playing is really interesting. The man can certainly play.
Jato Unit--less bouncing didgeridoo. I'm struck by a strong sense of deja vu. This material isn't just derivative. It is Cacophony with seven strings.
Azure Haze--ah, now I hear a bit more originality. Pretty cool slower piece. Some of the note choices are part of the unique voice I've heard from Loomis before.
Cashmere Shiv--the best track so far, marred by the return of the didgeridoo. In spite of that, I'm really struck by how creative this track is. It defies description.
Race Against Disaster--an absolute snooze fest until the slow part in the middle. Then, for a a few seconds, Loomis channels Friedman so perfectly that it's uncanny. Sadly it goes back to more follow the bouncing ball shit after that.
Sacristy--sweet classical-ish piece. Very nice.
Devil Theory--more Cacophony.
Miles Of Machines--even more Cacophony, but the solos have more Loomis signature to them.
Departure--umm, I guess.

I loved Cacophony back in the day, and still like the idiom. Loomis doesn't write as well as Becker and Friedman did 20+ years ago, but what he's done is thoroughly enjoyable. Bottom line, I'd like to have heard a bit more Loomis in there. My favorite tracks, Azure Haze and Cashmere Shiv, are the least like Cacophony. I enjoyed the ride, and I'll pick up the CD one of these days.

[Jacksons Shred]

Yep NextInLine's opinion is close to my own. I just don't see what's groundbreaking or even appealing about it. CD's like these are dime a dozen. I 'm kind of disappointed, I guess.

I kinda understand what both of you are saying, someone asked me if it was better than perpetual burn and I responded with. "On a all out technical shred factor, yes, on a musical and song writting factor, no".


I think the album's awesome, and it has a lot of great moments.

[thetroy]

Yep NextInLine's opinion is close to my own. I just don't see what's groundbreaking or even appealing about it. CD's like these are dime a dozen. I 'm kind of disappointed, I guess.

It's not groundbreaking or innovative, but that doesn't make it bad.

I like it about a little more than Rusty's self-titled solo album.

The difference is I actually like Rusty's stuff.

Weren't you the one who likes Necrophagist? This is at least as good as their stuff even if you disregard the vocals.

[bibz]

The guy can write just fine, if you listen to Nevermore's ballads the dudes got talent. Memorable licks are all through this shit! If you disect the 'fast run' into what he's playing it makes it incredible to me. The size of whats gone into it impresses me, and his tone, feel, phrasing, everything I just cannot get sick of. Think of what it would take to create this entire album. Imagine yourself doing it, and what you've written yourself. Thats what I compare it too, not cacophany, not even perpetual burn. Theres been alot of great music over time, and this is definitely up there 'imo'.