CHRIS BROOKS

Chris Brooks second album after long 9 years break, in between Masterplan his first release and this one he colaboratred with other musicians and bands, that's why he needed so much to come with a follow up. Released this year in september 2011 and named Axis of all things Chris Brooks manage to come with another very worthy album, little diffrent then predecesor but great neverthe less. I sais is quite diffrent then Masterplan who was a truly great prog metal album, tis time Brooks optained for a more fusion side of rock with some progressive tendencies, the metal elements are gone being replaced by jazzier rock moments eswell the resoult is for sure a great one. Competent talented composer and guitarist who effectively combines melodic hooks with top notch virtuosic guitar playing in a progressive/ jazz fusion compositional style. He is helped on this album by anothert great jazz fusion guitarist Brett Garsed responsable for some great chops and inventiv guitar passages, Gordon Rytmeister awell known drumer in Australia, to less known in my part of the world, all the musicians involved here delivering a dynamic album that is rich in arrangements, bringing some tastefull playing and great atmosphere. One of the most intrsting guitarists I've heared in last years, really great, is enough just to listen to Not the Day, Nor the Hour is absolutly killer piece, superb, Brooks is top notch here and witht he rest of the helpers, ttitle trck is another great tune, all are great btw. So another 4 stars, if his first album was a nice surprise this is again a very nice one a good follow up. recommended, one hell of a good guitarist who is not concentrating only on noodlings and all kinds of chops only to show how good he is, above all is a good song writter. 4 stars easy. CD available on cdbaby and aswell as download, so go and get it worth every second.

— First review of this album —

Chris Brooks is an australian guitarist not so well known among listners, not from here or other web pages. he manage to release two albums, one of them, this debute from 2002 named The masterplan. Well, I was very impressed by this album, progressive metal is what I found here, very well played, with great ideas and very spectacular arrangements and passgaes performed only by Chris himself. Guitar acrobatics, bursting keyboards solos and gread drum chops are to be found here. All album is instrumental with diverse and creative passages going from prog metal to jazz fusion, everything is well arranged. What I like most is that Chris was concetrated more of composing then to show to listners how great he is on guitar with neverending shreddings. This is well balanced album where progressive attitude is all over, great interludes between guitar and keyboards. For ex. the opener Kryptica shows his imense talent, great tune, Tales of a distant sky is another winner for sure with some imaginative combinations and great soloing. So a great debute that needs a far more exposure to public, fans of Petrucci, Vai or Satriani butaswell fans of prog metal must take a listen, this worth every second. He just released his second album in september named Axis of all things, I'm all eys on this musician in the future and looking forward for his new release. 4 stars easy to The masterplan.