LIVE AT THE BAKED POTATO

Fantastic live album from metal fusion trio from Phoenix, Arizona. Being a classic power trio (guitar-bass-drums) they're playing energetic, complex and melodic instrumental music, mixing progressive metal with jazz-rock fusion, adding some blues-rock and funk. Excellent technique is combined with great musicianship!

Album, recorded live in great LA place, contains songs from their two previous studio albums and guitarist Jeff Kollman's solo album Shedding Skin. Album's opener is quite classic prog metal composition Sheer Drama. But starting from second song, "Fat ,Mean & Nasty", you can be hypnotised by hard funky pulsation and excellent guitar acrobatics. "El Perro Vaila" continues funky , with catchy melody and excellent guitar line in traditions of electric jazz-fusion. Somewhere in the middle of the song Latino-fusion bass solo is coming, getting some space for drum solo. All the composition is finished by electric fusion solo guitar, playing with warm Mediterranean touch!

I.N.S. Conspiracy is complex heavy fusion composition, Road To Tanzania/Tribal Trance is excellent mid-tempo modern fusion composition. Whenever I don't want to continue reviewing this album by songs, even from examples above each can feel, how different their music is. All the sound is fresh, funky, electrified guitar fusion, with some prog metal elements.

And in combination with their musical competence and musical excellence, this albums is just a gem.

Highly recommended for any metal fusion or progressive metal fan, as well as for jazz-fusion lovers ( who doesn't afraid of some heavy moments in music). One of the greatest metal fusion album I ever heard, seriously!