ELECTROCUTION 250

Todd Duane was one of the most interesting artists to have emerged from Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records which was basically a record label devoted to recording as many phenomenally gifted virtuoso guitars as possible. The only problem was that Varney tended to sanitize the artists' personalities and often leaving generic shredfests that offered little above the status quo. While a scant few like Ron Thal / Bumblefoot somehow managed to buck this trend, others like Duane had to break free from the gravitational pull of the label before finding a way to unleash his true guitar manic nature.

Duane met Swedish born Lalle Larson (Agents Of Mercy, Karmakanic, Ominox, 3rd World Electric) in the 90s and together they traveled Europe performing a series of popular virtuoso gigs that showcased the beauty of instrumental rock and metal. After hooking up with another Swede, Peter Wilder (Agretator, Armageddon, Darkane, Demise, Electrocution 250, Gardens of Obscurity, Majestic, Non-Human Level, Pestilence, Silver Seraph, Time Requiem, Zaninez), the trio set forth to record under the moniker ELECTROCUTION 250 where they concocted a zany album that showcased virtuoso chops all wrapped up in jazz-fusion and cartoon music.

Everyone has fond memories of their favorite cartoons of their childhood with the playful Raymond Scott type musical chops often the highlight. ELECTROCUTION 250 took the premise of a silly Zappa styled album that implements intricate melodies derived from the world of cartoon music and then mixes in the bombast of thrash metal and jazz. While a similar musical approach had been recorded by Fântomas on their cartoon laced 2005 epic "Suspended Animation," ELECTROCUTION 2005 beat them by a whole year and added a completely new level of instrumental virtuosity that is mindblowing as all three musicians are at the absolute pinnacle of their game.

The album starts out with some simple keyboard parts that quickly become joined by the bombast of thrash guitar riffs and a jazzy bass line on speed. The intermittent outbursts are punctuated by the jocular placidity of the cartoon music that plays ping pong with the freneticism of the jazz and thrash outbursts. Duane manages to squeeze in a sizzling guitar solo but really the whole piece is a virtuosic fusion pyroclastic flow of technical chops in cartoon land run amok. "Funky Lizard" dials up da funk with the bass groove and offers a call and response between the funk bass and the guitar / drum jazz-fusion technical workouts. Larson's keyboard playing gets to showcase some exquisitely adventurous playing on this one.

While the majority of the ten track are constructed democratically with each member contributing equally to the compositional development and soloing wankery, all three members also get a track to display their soloing techniques. While Duane is a phenomenal guitarist, it's on his solo "Gee-wiz" that is probably the least interesting of his guitar antics, however the aptly named "Looney Tune - Piano Solo" by Larson stays in character the best of the three and finds an unthinkable energetic delivery to a long loved style of children's music that everyone has heard. "Exploding Head - Drum Solo" by Wildoer likewise plays it conservatively compared to the drum gymnastics on the rest of the album and includes a random assortment of percussive sounds including some sort of whistle.

Of all the group tracks which are equally compelling, i believe that "Dr Fluffels" is the best of the lot. It is also the longest clocking in over the seven minute mark. This track showcases a thrashy metal stomp with jazz-infused bass and percussive drive behind. There are many deviations into extreme musical wizardry where the general pattern is a rhythmic change followed by a virtuosic call and response. The ending is particularly fruitful as all the three members find a ceaseless number of variations to riff off of the general melodic development. This track more than any other shows the band's true compositional fortitude accompanied by some of the slickest finger blistering virtuosic workouts known to musical recordings.

ELECTROCUTION 250 created a really stunning album with ELECTRIC CARTOON MUSIC FROM HELL. While its true the cartoon music gets brushed aside a lot of the time for the more virtuosic workouts, the combo effect of the thrash metal with the jazz-fusion workouts is more than work the price of admission. The tracks differ significantly enough so that the music never gets stale and the energy level is turned up to 11 the entire run of the album. While Fântomas may have concocted the more convincing metal / cartoon music fusion album, ELECTROCUTION 250 constructed the more satisfying technical bombast that takes some of the most different aspects of metal and jazz and mix them together as if it was second nature. The overall humorous lightheartedness of the music makes this a true pleasure to experience.

PURE DEMENTIA!MADNESS,MADNESS,MADNESS!Yes these are the only words thet are coming in my mind when I try to find some expressive nouns to fit with this insane album! Insanity on guitar and keyboards and,definitelly something that proves the fact that human mind is the most twisted element in a world of so many relative things!The guitarero called TODD DUANE is very angry on life and his main goal on this album is to prove thet he can play faster then the speed of sound!I wonder id he has only ten fingers?!?!Sometimes I have the feeling that the music is faster thet a supersonic plane and we ask ourselves if it's possibly from the point of view of the technique possibilities...skills...ability?!?!!Surrounded by 2 other freaks,the keyboard genius LALE LARSSON and the human drum machine PETER WILDOER ,this infernal trio made an album that is impossible to compare it to other musical releases in this direction!Just look at te cover of the album and you'll suppose that...maybee...inside you'll find some cartoon music..and that's it!Yes...some songs are perfecttly compatible to the craziest cartoons-style LOONEY TUNES ,slyle ROADRUNNER where the pursuits,crazy races and permanent fights are the essential theme !Ths music is so frenzy and unleashed ,almost inhuman in it;s dementia!The fact that the album is under 40 minuted doesn't has any importance,because the music is so dense and rabid ,that in the end we have the reaction of a relief to have safely escaped of a musical agressionl!It's a pure speed demonstration for guitar afficionados,but a difficult audition for any prog fan!In fact..it's not at all prog...it's SPEEDY GONZALES on music...IBA,IBA ANDERE-ANDERE!!!!!CARAMBA!!! 3 STARS for the insane speed and virtuosity!

This instrumental album is pure madness. As the title suggests, it's very complex prog, tech metal with the unique touch of cartoon music. Here you'll listen melodies that you'd rather hear in a circus or in an old cartoon tv program, like Tom & Jerry. This is certainly fast music, those who're looking for slow and very mellow music will get a headache. The members, specially guitarist Todd Duane and keyboardist Lale Larson can shred at very, VERY high speeds, and will have you paying a lot of attention trying to decipher these impossible melodies and runs. I wonder how can these guys play this live (if they ever did), it's really insane. Ah, I almost forgot to talk about the humor: some melodies (for example the 'chorus' on the first track) made me laugh and put a smile in my face. As well as in the drum solo, Peter Wildoer starts shouting madly.

Highlights? Well, Fletcher The Mouse (starts with a vey fast beat, a blast beat, as they call it in the Death/Black Metal world), the proggy Dr. Fluffels, Ridiculosus (damn, it's ridiculous how fast these guys can play!), and the closer and totally impossible to play Mr. Scruffen McFluff. All the other stuff, including the separated solos, is great and high speed shredding. There is a sample for Fletcher The Mouse on PA.

Overall, an UNIQUE album in my collection. Original music full of fast melodies, solos and cartoon themes. An exciting experience, and recommended for those looking for original music, something that lacks these days. Funny album.

Rating: 4.0/5

This album doesn't provide anything new, it just another "fast music" album, one of many, i'm getting tired of this kind of music, when i listened it, after reading all the goods comments here, i was really exited, but after the first listening i was disappointed, the whole album is like 1 long track, ok, it has different songs an tunes, but the same idea, an idea used by many others bands (and what call my attention: many sweden bands), so, maybe this is not a bad album, but i have listened this formula so many times that i get tired of this kind of music, it's a fast album, giddy, and all that common thinks in many prog metal band nowadays, but i think there're so many of these band out there, so many...

(if you like "andromeda" and that kind of bands, you are going to love this band)

an instrumental album in all the aspects..and a funny album in all the aspects...really..this band has created a new sub-genre and i will say that is somethig like....Cartoon progressive metal...yes,thats the new style on music..you have to listen to it..and then you will know that im not wrong..this album contains a lot of virtuosity played very well.with something of funky music.theres no vocals here,so what you are listen here is a fast guitar,and a amazing drums.and todd play the bass too.the funny thing are the keyboards..really really good..anyway,men,these are a very good musicians,they play their intruments very amazing..they took them to the limit without limit..this album is good to listen one day per week,because you heart will not tolerate..

Good album...

Keep on the good work..

Does humor belong in music? This trio proves it does and it is also combined with complexity, virtuosity and madness. Guitarist Todd Duane (plays also bass guitar here), keybordist Lale Larson and drummer Peter Wildoer all are extreamly able players. Amazing technique, musicianship and musical knowledge are mixed with childish melodies, madness and of course cartoons. Even though the music has elements from fusion to thrash metal, the childish melodies give you the image of the cartoons in your mind. There are also themes from cartoons used in the songs. On Progarchives there is a sample from this cd from the opening track "Fletcher The Mouse " (which is not very representative. It gives you a more 'LTE feeling').

I think this album is an excellent addition to any prog music collection cause it's one of the most extreame (in terms of madness, speed and humour). It's not a cd you will listen to many times but it will show you music has no limits!

really i could'nt realize what i was listening to...the first time i put this album on my stereo i understood that is an hard way to find musician in a project like this tah wants to explore all their sources to make a wounderful mix of stunning music. stunning notes payed in a sort of jam session studio. trying to push themself at up to the limit of somposition. mixing madness ( in a good sense) creativity and capacity of playing instrument in an excelent way. No instrumental album as ever played in certain way...try....but warning...your heart can collapse!