Sonic Perspectives

“Beer commercials, car commercials, and Cobra Kai.”

I straight up thought that legendary drummer Mark Zonder’s reference point for his new band would have been Toto or Journey. There aren’t really any sonic similarities between them and A-Z, but they all share these very key traits: at their core, they’re expertly-written, hook-saturated pop songs performed by an absurdly skilled cast of musicians. Their self-titled debut oozes 80s AOR as interpreted by a bunch of prog-metal and shred vets, with only trace amounts of cheese – the gouda stuff, not any of that Velveeta shit – adorning key moments. Even the Hugh Syme-designed logo bears a striking resemblance to the Asia logo.

As it happens, those similarities were inevitable, but circumstantial. “I did not want to hear things like, ‘I don’t hear a single,” Zonder says. “It would have some sophisticated music parts, but the big hook was the main priority.” That sophistication would come courtesy of some serious heavy-hitters: French keyboard monster Viven Lalu, his onetime guitarist Joop Wolters, and Steve Vai’s bassist Philip Bynoe. Most notably, A-Z sees Zonder performing together with his former Fates Warning bandmate Ray Alder. Together, these guys have created a lively serving of the most direct, to the point songs in their collective discographies. Heavy but not crushing, complex but not overpowering, A-Z is perhaps the most logical continuation of the aforementioned Asia ethos: simple and memorable structures buttressed by just enough instrumental badassery to keep prog snobs and woodshedders happy.

The post MARK ZONDER and RAY ALDER Talk Chemistry During Creation of A-Z Debut Album: “This Album Was an Open Palette, Yet We Stuck with the Mentality of Focusing on the Hooks and the Songs” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

John Norum is most famously known around the globe as being the lead guitarist and a founding member of the band Europe. Together they are Sweden’s most prominent rock export selling over 10 million albums worldwide with songs like “The Final Countdown,” “Carrie,” and “Rock the Night.” Recently the song “The Final Countdown” reached 1 billion views on YouTube, an unprecedented endeavor.

Most may not know that John has also fostered a tremendous solo career, and this September/October, he will be releasing his ninth solo album, “Gone to Stay”, via Fifth Island Music/Sony Music. To date, John has released two video singles, “Sail On,” which has received over 100K on YouTube, and on July 1st, released his second single, “Voices of Silence.” In just one week, it has garnered over 50K views.

Both songs, as well as the entire album, offer hard-hitting riffs with tremendous blues bravado. John taps into the hard rock blues vein similar to Gary Moore, Frank Marino, Jimi Hendrix, and Mahogany Rush. Couple that with his unique playing style, and songwriting puts the songs over the musical edge. “Gone to Stay” is a testament to John‘s rebellious spirit that drives these finely crafted tunes. As an added benefit, John enlisted his good friend, Åge Sten Nilsen of Wig Wam, to sing on three of the tracks “One By One,” “Terror over Me,” and the epic “Norma.” Listen, download, or buy HERE.

The post JOHN NORUM Talks Upcoming Solo Album “Gone to Stay:” ‘I’m Mainly a Blues Player into Pentatonic Scales but Going 100 Miles an Hour’ appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Derek Sherinian seems determined to make up for the lost time. Having spent nine years working with the super-groups Black Country Communion, PSMS and Sons of Apollo, and touring with Billy Idol, Joe Bonamassa and others, he is now focused on his solo career.

2020 saw the release of “The Phoenix”, Derek‘s first solo record in nine years, which did not disappoint. Teaming up once again with Simon Phillips and enlisting the likes of Kiko Loureiro, Steve Vai and Joe Bonamassa proved to be a winning combination, which led the album to the top of many “best of” lists of that year. You can read our review here of that record HERE.

This July 1st brought us the follow up to “The Phoenix”, entitled “Vortex”. It’s an album that follows the same modus-operandi as its predecessor, with Derek and Simon being co-responsible for the majority of the songs, and sharing production duties. Completing the lineup this time, we have Tony Franklin on bass and once again a star-studded list of guest guitarists: Michael Schenker, Steve Stevens, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Bumblefoot, Steve Lukather and Nuno Bettencourt help Derek and Simon bring their vision to fruition through eight tracks. From the fast pace of the title track, through the stripped-down approach of “Scorpion,” the heaviness of “Die Kobra” and the trippy “Aurora Australis”, the listener is challenged and pleased in equal measures.

1 The Vortex (Featuring Steve Stevens)

The post DEREK SHERINIAN Talks Writing Process Of His Recent Album with SIMON PHILLIPS: “‘Vortex’ Has The Same Mindset And The Same Creative Energy Of ‘The Phoenix’” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

While the pandemic seems like a thing of the past at the moment and many artists are going on extensive tours, there are still albums coming out which were written at the height of Covid-19. That’s the case with Eric Johnson‘s two upcoming releases, “The Book of Making” and “Yesterday Meets Today”. Blue Élan Records will release both albums on July 29th, and those who pre-order will also receive the keys to unlocking access to another album, entitled “Takeouts” – five unreleased songs, and alternate versions of the songs “Good To Me” and “Sitting On Top Of The World.”

A pre-order is available now.“The Book of Making” and “Yesterday Meets Today” are both made of songs that Eric had been playing for years on his live shows, old demos and some brand-new tracks. It’s a true feast for fans of the Austin-born guitarist, owner of a unique guitar sound and voice. Some of the songs have already been shown to his audience, such as the fast boogie “Move on Over”, the evocative “Love Will Never Say Goodbye” and “Soundtrack Life”, which showcases his signature style.

Having started his career with the Austin fusion group Electromagnets, Eric soon decided to form a trio, and also worked as a session guitarist for Cat Stevens, Carole King and Christopher Cross. His solo career would get people’s attention with the release of “Tones”, with the track “Zap” being nominated for the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. However, the big break would only come with the follow up album, “Ah Via Musicom”. The album’s second track, “Cliffs of Dover”, won Johnson a 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. “Venus Isle” followed up in 1996, and Eric would go on tour with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, on the first edition of G3.

Other incredible albums followed, such as “Souvenir” (2002), “Bloom” (2005), and EJ Vol.1 and 2 (2016 and 2020, respectively). Eric Johnson remains one of the most influential guitar players of his generation, and continues to impress audiences across the globe.

In order to promote “The Book of Making” and “Yesterday Meets Today”, Eric sat down with Sonic Perspectives flagship interviewer Rodrigo Altaf. They discussed a few tracks from the album, the first G3 tour, Eric’s influence on other players and much more. Listen or watch to their chat below and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post World Renowned Guitarist ERIC JOHNSON Comments on His Technique: “Your Tone Is Mostly on Your Fingers, And Not So Much on The Gear You Use” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Vinny Appice is a metal legend, plain and simple. Having started his career playing with Rick Derringer and with his band Axis, Vinnie rose to fame after joining Black Sabbath on the Heaven and Hell Tour. With Black Sabbath he recorded the follow up album “Mob Rules,” before leaving to become the drummer of Dio‘s solo band. He was a mainstay of Dio‘s discography, and played on classic albums like “Holy Diver,” “The Last in Line,” and “Sacred Heart”. He returned to Black Sabbath for the “Dehumanizer” album and tour, and also played on the Black Sabbath offshoot Heaven and Hell, again with Dio.

After Dio‘s passing, Vinny was involved in many other bands and projects: Kill Devil Hill, Hollywood Monsters, Resurrection Kings (with Dio alumni Craig Goldie), and most notably, Last in Line, which was formed by members of Dio‘s band. He also recorded drums for both albums of Joel Hoekstra’s 13, and often does shows with his brother Carmine Appice.

Today (July 10th, 2022) would have been Dio‘s 80th birthday, and in celebration of the date, Rhino Records released a 4-CD collection featuring remixed and remastered versions Of Dio’s 1983 platinum debut, along with unreleased outtakes, live recordings and rarities. A remixed version of “Holy Diver,” done by Joe Barresi will also be available as a 2-LP set.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf is a huge fan of Dio-era Black Sabbath and of Dio‘s solo career. He had the chance to sit down with Appice to discuss the contents of the “Holy Diver” reissue, as well as his time with Black Sabbath, his shows with Carmine Appice, touring plans and much more. Listen or watch to their chat below and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post Legendary Drummer VINNY APPICE Reflects on The Early Days of DIO And “Holy Diver” Reissue: “The Band Was On Fire Back Then, And We Played Really Fast!” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Released on March 18, 2022, “Postcards from the End of the World” is the sophomore effort of Shining Black. The band was formed as a collaboration between vocalist Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire, Royal Hunt) and guitarist Ölaf Thorson (Labyrinth, Vision Divine). Completing the lineup are Oleg Smirnoff on keyboards & piano, Nik Mazzucconi on bass, and Matt Peruzzi on drums. Picking up where their self-titled debut left off, “Postcards from the End of the World” explores a wide range of styles: from the power metal undertones of “A Hundred Thousand Shades of Black”, through the prog ballad “Like Leaves of November” or the death metal vibe of “We Are Death Angels”, the listener is taken on an incredibly rewarding journey.

The combination of Boals’ lung-busting vocals and Thorson’s blistering guitar skills was meant to come into fruition in 2014, when Boals was invited to join Thorson’s band, Labyrinth. Conflicts of schedule prevented that from happening, and so the pair took their time to initiate their collaboration. After the debut album of Shining Black was released, it was clear that the partnership could go way further. With two albums under their belts now, the time seems fitting for them to start discussing live shows.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf had the chance to sit down with Mark Boals to discuss all things Shining Black, his time working with Yngwie Malmsteen, opening for AC/DC and much more. Listen or watch to their chat below and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post MARK BOALS On Partnership with LABYRINTH’s OLAF THORSEN on SHINING BLACK Project: “I Had No Idea We Would Click So Well” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

What do you do when your band is on a break, and you’re used to playing a million notes every night? If your name is Jordan Rudess, the answer is: you go out on a solo tour and play a million other notes per show. 

Dream Theater finished a successful run of shows in Europe and North America, promoting their latest release, “A View from the Top of The World”. The tour will resume in South America in a few months, and they will set their sails to Asia soon after that. This summer, however, the keyboard extraordinaire Jordan Rudess is playing a series of intimate shows in the U.S. Through almost two hours, Jordan plays renditions of songs that were pivotal in his upbringing, from artists such as David Bowie, Elton John and King Crimson, and selected songs from the Dream Theater catalogue. Entitled “An Evening with Jordan Rudess”, the tour will consist of twenty two dates.  

Jordan has maintained a steady solo career, from his 1988 debut “Arrival” up to 2021’s “Rockestra”. He joined Dream Theater in 1999, and since then he has become one of the major creative forces within the band. Some of the other endeavors and projects he has been involved in include Liquid Tension Experiment, Levin Minneman Rudess and Rudess/Morgenstein Project. He has played in albums from Vinnie Moore, David Bowie, Kip Winger, Annie Haslam and Steven Wilson, to name a few.

The post Keyboard Wizard JORDAN RUDESS Describes What “An Evening with JORDAN RUDESS” Shows Feels Like: “It’s A Whirlwind to Go Out on A Solo Tour While on A Break from The DREAM THEATER Shows” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

For 37 years, TESLA continues to write, record, and tour to the excitement of their fans. In 2014 they released a stellar straight-up, hard-rocking album, “Simplicity” and then in 2019 released “Shock,” a rock album but with a bit more polished and shine. It was written and recorded while on tour in hotels, backstage, and on buses with Phil Collen of Def Leppard at the production helm, and layered with tons of lush guitar work and smooth vocals and choruses.

TESLA – Frank Hannon [guitar], Brian Wheat [bass], Jeff Keith [vocals], Troy Luccketta [drums], and Dave Rude [guitar] – remains one of the most celebrated and enduring rock bands with a diehard, loyal fanbase. They have enjoyed international chart, radio, and tour success for nearly 37 years, with multi-platinum albums and global album sales topping 15 million.Together they have sold more than 25 million albums domestically and played globally to sold-out crowds.

The band is still kicking ass live, and this summer will be touring the US for their “Let’s Get Real Tour.” It kicks off June 11th in Lincoln, California, and finishes up in Concord, California. This round-trip jaunt of the US will take on 34 shows. Tickets are on sale now at www.teslaband.com.

The post TESLA Guitarist FRANK HANNON Talks Upcoming Tour and Band’s Strategy for New Music: “We Will Write and Produce Our Next Albums Ourselves” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.