Shadow Eden’s | Skunkworx

by John Kindred
— Publisher —

Shadow Eden is a Progressive Rock instrumental group led by David Mercado. The band’s most recent release was 2015’s Perpetual Motion featured the late Randy Coven and Kenny Lane.

Eight years later Shadow Eden is dropping a new album titled Skunkworx, which contains eight new instrumental songs. On Skunkworx Mercado continues his musical journeys tapping into several genres – Progressive, Rock, Fusion, and Jazz. His music always has a very upbeat positive feel which engages the listener’s ear.

Joining Mercado on his musical explorations is a slew of musicians.

Listening to Skunkworx you are going to hear hints of Mercado’s influences. Prog-rockers Kansas and Joe Satriani come to mind. The music is not shred-metal but it has that Savatage musical ebb and flow, the keyword here is dynamics. Mercado’s dances around the fretboard with fluidity and positivity. His guitar is the voice for the journey providing catchy melodies, but also the bite of brilliant soloing.

Guitar driven instrumental fans will love these tunes. From “Brooklyn 1978” to “Still Life” the diversity and dynamic changes make this an appealing record to listen to.

Genre: Instrumental Rock

Band:
David Mercado (g)
Alejandro Garcia (d)
Persona Non Grada (b)
Dan Chaffin (k)
Jordan Cannata (d)
Glenn DaGrossa (b)(g)
Joe Denizon (violin)
Claudie Galinski (d)
Paul Ranieri (b)
Lance Jaeger (b)

Lance Jaeger (b)

Label: Shredguy Records

Track Listing:

1. Prologue
2. Brooklyn 1978
3. Warrior Poets
4. Skunkworx
5. Still Life
6. Blindog
7. Starlight Sonata
8. Carpathia

Hardrock Haven rating: (8.5 / 10)