![]() ![]() Sweeping keyboards at the end remind of Buckethead’s Monsters & Robots (opening cut “Jump Man”). “WWIII” gets things going with its bouncing guitar rhythms and complementary underpinning groove, impressing of the astute and distinguished as it highlights the artists shred abilities but not to a fault. Hence, the best way to define albums three opening tracks, which with their heavier inclining would not sound out of place on any eighties era Joe Satriani album. Rather, he makes well conceived instrumental songs his focal point and further builds upon them with skilled and proficient musicianship, the least of not which being his already well regarded guitar abilities. ![]() In other words, similar to many of my favorite instrumental artists within the hard music scene - of which I will be referencing throughout the review - Cameron forsakes neither melody nor writing interesting music. Not so Angelica, which on Without Words takes a song-orientated approach to the instrumental hard rock genre by striking the perfect balance between musicianship and songwriting. No reason to name names, but it has been my experience that in many instances instrumental hard rock albums have too much of a sound alike feel from serving as a showcase for virtuoso musicianship to the extent songwriting plays a secondary role. ![]() I have to answer with a resounding yes! It deserves note I am not the biggest instrumental music fan, referencing how my collection includes an entire shelf of ‘instrumental guitar shred’ CD’s that I rarely if ever listen. Perhaps it was also disappointment in that I had high-hopes any potential Angelica comeback album would see Cameron reach out to Rob Rock after having composed 10 to 11 killer melodic metal and hard rock cuts not unlike the debut.Įxpectations and disappointments aside and throwing out whatever moniker the project goes under, what it boils down to is the question of whether the music is any good. Further compounding matters is marketing strategy, which I initially felt that due to the instrumental direction, it would be better to release the album as a Dennis Cameron solo project as opposed to under the Angelica heading. Similar to many, I always identified with Angelica as a vocal project hence, the manner in which it took a certain amount of time before I could warm up to the idea of an instrumental release. I could not help but be skeptical upon hearing that Angelica would be releasing an instrumental album subsequent to a nearly thirty year hiatus. On 1990 Angelica sophomore effort Walkin’ In Faith Jerome Mazza took on vocal duties only to give way to Drew Baca, whom fronted third album from 1991 Rock Stock & Barrel in addition to playing a co-lead vocal role with Cameron on 1992 swan song effort Time Is All It Takes (all also on Intense). Better known as the project of Ontario, Canada based guitarist extraordinaire Dennis Cameron, Angelica gained initial acclaim for its melodic metal and hard rock vocal material, beginning with its highly regarded and Rob Rock fronted Intense Records self-titled debut from 1989. Angelica’s pivotal step into the instrumental end of the hard music landscape with the summer of 2019 Girder Music release of its aptly entitled fifth album Without Words, is melodic, sensible and a serious contender to rank within the top ten albums of the year. ![]()
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