MOLECULAR HEINOSITY

This might be the best thing Derek has created so far. I love how heavy this album is, absolutely killer ! As usual he has many guests helping out including some of the usual suspects (haha). For a keyboardist he sure doesn't dominate the sound,quite the contrary actually, and that I appreciate.

The first three tracks are a trilogy much in the PLANET X style, in fact the lineup for these three tunes is the same one that is featured on PLANET X's "Quantum" album. Garsed on guitar, Donati on drums and Johnson on bass along with Sherinian of course. "Antarctica" opens with spacey synths as outbursts of heaviness come and go until it kicks in before a minute. Each time it kicks in it sounds like the band ONE SHOT. Nice. Check out the guitar before 3 minutes then later at 4 minutes. It ends with synths washing in as it blends into "Ascension". The guitar from Garsen is crying out. It blends into "Primal Eleven" where drums join in and build. It gets heavy before 2 minutes and I love the synths that follow. It settles before 3 1/2 minutes as the guitar solos. Riffs 5 minutes in then those synths I like are back after 6 1/2 minutes.

"Wings Of Insanity" features Zakk Wylde on guitar, Brian Tichy on drums and Rob Mules on bass. Derek mentions in the liner notes that he thinks this is probably the "sickest" drum track Brian has recorded to date. It's dark to open as the guitar comes in. It picks up before a minute. Kicking ass ! The guitar is ripping it up. Great track. "Frozen By Fire" has Mules and Tichy back once again but this time Rusty Cooley is on guitar. How good does this sound ! A heavy beat as the guitar solos over top with synths from Sherinian washing in and out. Cooley is on fire after 4 1/2 minutes. "The Lone Spaniard" features a new guitarist in Taka Minamono who Derek gushes about for good reason. Tony Franklin on Fretless bass and Tina Guo on cello. This was an unfinished piece from the previous album "Blood Of The Snake" .Originally written for Yngwie's guitar Taka takes the role with some blistering and fast solos. Piano to open before the guitar joins in tastefully before becoming intense.

"Molecular Intro" is Derek by himself with synths making experimental sounds. "Molecular Heinosity" has Taka back on guitar along with Mules and Tichy. Derek says this song is very Swedish in that the inspirations for it are from Yngwie and MESHUGGAH. Heavy drums as the guitar comes in on fire after a minute. The tempo picks up. "So Far Gone" is unusual in that there are vocals. Zakk sings and he sounds like a cross between Ozzy and the late Slaney from ALICE IN CHAINS. Tina is back on cello with Tichy on drums and Franklin on bass. This is haunting with church bells and lot of atmosphere. It's spooky as Zakk comes in vocally. It's building. Here we go ! Contrasts continue. Cello after 2 minutes. An all out assault 3 1/2 minutes in. More cello 5 1/2 minutes in and 7 minutes in. In the liner notes Derek says he gets goosebumps eveytime he hears this one. Amazing track.

A must for Metal fans out there.4.5 stars.