Dream Theater and ex-Alice Cooper keyboardist
Derek Sherinian grabs the spotlight with
Planet X, leading his own band through a set of instrumentals, mostly co-written with drummer
Virgil Donati. The album is more prog rock than progressive metal, although the compositional influence of
Steve Vai pop up here and there, along with King Crimson and other progressive luminaries given to complex, shifting time signatures.
Sherinian has chops to burn, but he plays tastefully and creates textures just as well as he solos; guitarist
Brett Garsed and bassist
Tony Franklin also turn in fine performances. ~ Steve Huey