| Written by Alex Stojanovic TRACK LISTING Self Pollution Sorrow & Madness Streetlight Whiteworm For A Friend Pussy Ghost The Blackest Rose Something To Fight The Solider Miracle The Last Lament Release Date: August 4, 2017 Label: Prosthetic Records Website: www.martyfriedman.com www.facebook.com/martyfriedman.official |  |
MARTY FRIEDMAN BAND IS:
Marty Friedman - Guitars Gregg Bisonnette - Drums Anup Sastry - Drums Kiyoshi - Bass
Marty Friedman - Guitars Gregg Bisonnette - Drums Anup Sastry - Drums Kiyoshi - Bass
After focuing on primarily Japanese stuff for a number of years, the one and only Marty Friedman decided that the time was right to do some worldwide releases and proper world tours. In 2014, he released his first album where he returned to his heavier roots with Inferno and he toured the world, saying hello to all the fans around the world who haven't seen him since his departure from Megadeth and his new album Wall Of Sound continues that trajectory. I don't review instrumental albums all the time, but when I saw that Marty was releasing a new album, I knew I had to write one on it. With a diverse range of influences, Marty's never been afraid to let them all see the light of day in his songs.
Many songs on here have a lot of spontaneous left turns that come out of nowhere. For example, opener "Self Pollution" begins as a festival of face-melting metal, then turns somber with emotional and atmospheric melodies. It's almost like mixing Revocation and Pink Floyd in one track. I don't think those two have been used in the same sentence before. The left turns don't stop there though. Another example is the following track "Sorrow & Madness" where the song starts off with giant chords creating a wall of sound (no pun intented) along with punishing drum fills for 15 seconds before transitioning without warning into a piano and violin section. The violin is provided by Jinxx of Black Veil Brides.
Marty is never going to make an album that is just pure insanity from top to bottom. You gotta slow things down a bit so the magic is not taken away. Each song contains a slower section or two combined with segments of intense and insane shred. "For A Friend" however is of the only moments where things slow right down from start to finish, and so is "The Soldier". Marty never fails to conjure up melodies that just hit you right in the feels. A perfect example is "Miracle". Those melodies straight-up tear-jerkers and they just tug at your heartstrings. Anybody that's moved by music as much as I am will know exactly what I mean.
Getting to the one and only track on the record to feature vocals, which is "Something To Fight", featuring Jorgen Munkeby of Shining, one of the most interesting parts of this track is the fact that it contains a saxophone solo, giving the track a completely different flavour, and it sounds amazing. When it comes to instrumental albums, there's not very many musicians that can make a memorable album from top to bottom. Marty on the other hand, being the master he is, seems to have it down to a science. Pick up Wall Of Sound and catch Marty live when you get the chance.
Highs: Quality songwriting and performances.
Lows: If instrumental albums aren't your thing, don't bother.
Final Rating: 9/10
Many songs on here have a lot of spontaneous left turns that come out of nowhere. For example, opener "Self Pollution" begins as a festival of face-melting metal, then turns somber with emotional and atmospheric melodies. It's almost like mixing Revocation and Pink Floyd in one track. I don't think those two have been used in the same sentence before. The left turns don't stop there though. Another example is the following track "Sorrow & Madness" where the song starts off with giant chords creating a wall of sound (no pun intented) along with punishing drum fills for 15 seconds before transitioning without warning into a piano and violin section. The violin is provided by Jinxx of Black Veil Brides.
Marty is never going to make an album that is just pure insanity from top to bottom. You gotta slow things down a bit so the magic is not taken away. Each song contains a slower section or two combined with segments of intense and insane shred. "For A Friend" however is of the only moments where things slow right down from start to finish, and so is "The Soldier". Marty never fails to conjure up melodies that just hit you right in the feels. A perfect example is "Miracle". Those melodies straight-up tear-jerkers and they just tug at your heartstrings. Anybody that's moved by music as much as I am will know exactly what I mean.
Getting to the one and only track on the record to feature vocals, which is "Something To Fight", featuring Jorgen Munkeby of Shining, one of the most interesting parts of this track is the fact that it contains a saxophone solo, giving the track a completely different flavour, and it sounds amazing. When it comes to instrumental albums, there's not very many musicians that can make a memorable album from top to bottom. Marty on the other hand, being the master he is, seems to have it down to a science. Pick up Wall Of Sound and catch Marty live when you get the chance.
Highs: Quality songwriting and performances.
Lows: If instrumental albums aren't your thing, don't bother.
Final Rating: 9/10
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