• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Viljanen, Elias: Taking the Lead

Instrumental (Metal) Guitar

4.0/5.0

Lion Music
Website MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  08.15.2011

Fans of guitar virtuosity may recognize this reissue of Taking the Lead, the 2002 instrumental debut of Sonata Arctica guitarist Elias Viljanen. The album was well-received for Viljanen fine guitar technique and ability to weave melodic compositions around that same shredding. So why the reissue by Lion Music? This album is being packaged with a seven song DVD live set from Viljanen called Evil Spirit Live, and includes material from his second project The Leadstar (2005) as well.

While the Taking the Lead shows Viljanen's formidable skill on the fret board, we already know that. It's likely guitar fiends know the album and have it. If you don't, you should look for this package. However, I didn't receive the DVD for review. Therefore, I have no reason to comment on what is the significant purpose, and feature, of the reissue. Otherwise, as said earlier, Taking the Lead is fine material, and a must for guitar lovers.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The reissue of Elias Viljanen's Taking the Lead (2002) by Lion Music offers the addition of a seven song DVD live set. I didn't receive this, so I cannot comment the principal purpose of the reissue. Nevertheless, Viljanen shows his exceptional talent on the CD.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]