Joe Stump Virtuostic Vendetta
by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer
Twelve tracks lasting a very inspiring 72 minutes is what can be found on Virtuostic Vendetta , the new release from American guitar guru Joe Stump. It will be released in mid April on Finland’s Lion Music.
This release is a wonderful example of the range of talents the much underappreciated Mr. Stump possesses. There is exceptionally clean, spirited, rock guitar, metal guitar and neo-classical shred guitar to name a few. All genres are covered on this record.
Stump in fact really emerges here from the stereotype he has helped to create as merely a shredder. His delicate handling of these other styles is fantastic and allows the listener to be taken into the late ‘60s late ‘70s and late ‘80s during this one record.
One of the distinguishing things that makes Joe so unique is his use of real traditional metal riffs and rhythms on his solo records and here he does it again on tracks like “Trigger Happy “ and “Pistol Whipped.” His use of nasty sick basic rhythms that are laced over top of like Marty Friedman on crack are spellbinding.
The traditional Stump neo-classical shred tracks like “Symphonic Pandemonium” and “Allegro # 2 in A Minor” are exceptionally played and Stumps rocket fast fingers are as limber as a ballet dancer in a hot yoga class.
The best of the lot though are the over and subverted tributes to Ritchie Blackmore and Jimi Hendrix on the cuts “Blackmore`s Boogie” and “Strat Sorcery.” In the former Stump liquors it up in fine Blackmore fashion circa 1977 and on the latter it’s late ‘60s Jimi in London.
Folks all that needs to be said is that this may be Joe Stump’s “Magnum Opus,” and that’s saying something as Joe may be the best unknown (outside of guitar circles) American axe grinder of the past 20 years and has already released a ton of fantastic records.
This is a huge candidate for record of the year in 2009 and maybe the entire decade.
Pick one up when it’s available on Lion Music in mid-April.
Label: Lion Music
Band Members
Joe Stump-All Guitars
Jay Rigney- Bass
Jay Gates – Drums
Track Listing
01. Chasin’ The Dragon
02. Pistol Whipped
03. The Dance of Kashani
04. Fire and Brimstone
05. The Beacon
06. Blackmore`s Boogie
07. Old School Throwdown
08. Allegro # 2 in A minor
09. Trigger Happy
10. Symphonic Pandemonium
11. The Witching Hour
12. Strat Sorcery
HRH Rating: 9/10