Paul Gilbert,Freddie Nelson: metalichika review

Wow, did these guys hit the ground running with a fantastic debut right away! United States, a collaborative album with Freddie Nelson, spearheaded by guitar virtuoso Paul Gilbert, was first released in October 2008 in Japan. The album has now been out over a year and it’s showing it’s staying power, continuing to remain relevant.

Right to the point: This album is a solid rock & roll release, which I adore. The music has a lot of drive to it; it’s quite active and kinetic, with a natural ebb and flow to the sequence of the songs. A variety of “subgenres” are quoted – everything from 60’s pop, 70’s classic rock and dance, to 80’s-style heavy metal, to modern (alt?) 00’s rock.

The album is ten tracks of “radio-length” songs, ranging from a short 3:00 (I’m Not Addicted) to a long 4:40 (Hideaway). The whole album whizzes by, without one second of filler music. It’s also worth noting that it’s not a cultural assault. There’s no gratuitous anger, hatred, violence, or sexuality. It’s simply a lot of rock and roll. This music is good enough to stand on it’s own without having to rely on a cultural hook like that.

Each instrument carries it’s own voicing and weight. There are a variety of tempos provided by drummer Matt Muckle. Further interesting accents are created with Emi Gilbert’s keyboard work.

full review