Alex Masi is definitely the heart of the band that bears his last name, but the music of this group is not an exact duplication of his solo style. Well, in fairness, even his own solo albums are not really clones of each other. The man does know how to vary his work. Also to his credit, Masi (the man) seems very interested in crafting solid songs here, rather than just backgrounds within which to feature his guitar virtuosity. He also shows the good sense to know a good song even when someone else has written it -- note his cover of Foreigner's "Blue Morning Blue Day." The comparisons to Yngwie Malmsteen may run rampant in many reviews of Masi's work, but truly his understanding that the song is king separates him from the guitarists of that ilk. The overall texture of this album is that of a modernization of the '80s' metal sound with a more complex and creative compositional texture (and definitely a good helping of neo-classical structures). Comparisons to Ritchie Blackmore, both in Rainbow and Deep Purple, are deserved, too. Vocalist Kyle Michaels truly adds a great rock dimension to the piece and leaves you wondering, "Why have I never heard him before?" The end result is that of an album that is quite solid and entertaining. The only real complaint is that the production, although not really bad, falls a bit flat at times. This is arguably the best album from Masi (the man and the band) and even one of the best of the genre.
© Gary Hill /TiVo