The Italian Shred Fest
Italian born guitarist Francesco Artusato spent his early years playing the saxophone before moving to guitar at 19. Since then he has become a big name in the metal world for his incredible guitar playing skills. He spent some time lending those skills to one of metals bigger name bands, All Shall Perish, and toured the world with them till his solo work gained some attention.
The Francesco Artusato Project’s latest release Our Dying Sun, the follow up to the critically acclaimed “Chaos and the Primordial”, doesn’t disappoint. Each of the 11 tracks of all instrumental metal tracks came as advertised. It’s a big shred fest. No singers to get in the way of Francesco as he tears it up from track to track.
The first track “210” really sets the tone for the entire album. With music like this it’s hard to pull off. That’s why the first song is so important to the big picture on these albums. If a listener can’t make it through the first track, there is a huge likelihood they wont make it through the rest of the album. Francesco recognizes that, and puts what I believe to be the stronger song on the album first. “210” moves through section after section pretty quickly. His playing is absolutely superb and with each solo he ramps up the technicality. All things that are important to an album like this.
“Gates of Reason,” the album’s second track has some interesting parts to it. After its short intro we get right to it. There seems to be a lack of information about who the rest of the band is but if it’s not a computer I would be pretty shocked. The timing is incredible on this track. Swapping out time signatures at machine-like accuracy on a dime is a pretty incredible feat.
Francesco really put it down on Our Dying Sun. Although the album is meant for a niche audience it’s good enough to possibly expand on it. Again, his playing is absolutely perfect on this album. You would be hard pressed to find any one who can put out an album like this and not be laughed out of the room.
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