Review Summary: You ever hear an album that slays so hard you can't help but smile ear to ear? Yeah, this is one of those.
Gus Drax is a 22 year old Greek guitarist. This is his first full-length album. Not only does this guy have the chops to burn up the frets but he is also a good enough writer to keep the listener entertained through the playtime of the album. For people in search of soaring leads this would certainly be considered top priority. Gus Drax handles the guitar with a certain precision that could only be withheld by someone who has the utmost understanding for the instrument. His style is very mature and has a sense of melody that is without a doubt eyecatching.
With all that being said the tempos on the album vary. The track
In Loving Memory opens with a slow, almost dreary style that is delivered with much emotion over the sound of some great piano playing to create an atmosphere that isn't brought on often by an instrumental album. The track later on reaches and epic climax which seems to be a reoccurring pattern throughout the album, not to say that this is a bad thing in fact it happens to be the best thing about the album as a whole.
In Search Of Perfection has it's heavier moments, an example of this would be
Hourglass. On this track Gus Drax hops around the fretboard like nobodies business while a chunky riff pounds away in the background, while listening to the song it is almost hard to believe that anyone could pick up a guitar and play something cohesive at that speed. Moments like these will have you near convinced that Gus Drax is simply a well designed robot.
While the other instruments on the album do contribute the main focus is always on the guitarist which is to be expected considering he is the attraction that anyone listening to this album came to hear. That being said the track
1000 Nights gets started off right with a some very catchy funk bass playing, this intro does an excellent job setting the more upbeat tone the song takes. Another track with a more upbeat atmosphere would be
Vitality which opens up with a riff that almost sounds like something AC/DC would've played back in the day, this riff surprisingly fits in well with Gus Drax dynamic playing style. At about three minutes in his tone takes a drastic change and it almost sounds as though he is a metal snakecharmer.
Some people might avoid this due to the fact that it is an instrumental album. In Search Of Perfection is just as catchy and attention grabbing as the majority of new releases that include vocals so the people avoiding this should just take a chance and check it out. Afterwards they'll find themselves attempting to hum the infectious leads that Gus Drax throws at you the entire record, and while listening it seems as though everything is sticking.
Overall Gus Drax earns himself the most solid 4.5 out of 5 I can give. Anyone who plays guitar or is a fan of metal and shred in general should do themselves a favor and get this as soon as possible. Without a doubt In Search Of Perfection is the most epic thing to come out so far in 2010 so far and one of the best instrumental albums period.
