Customer Reviews

Art Metal

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After Shawn Lane's death, things became a little bit cumbersome for Jonas. This is a clear departure from the sound that they jointly created, a very nice way to say goodbye to good old Shawn. As the title very well states, this is ART Metal in full extension. The group format includes Selvaganesh, but as humble as his instrument can be, sometimes he leads the group to very intrincated rithms in which Mathias and Hellborg manage to elaborate incredible solos... The easiness of the playing is remarkable, so is the very tight interplay between all. Jonas has definitely matured beyond belief and bring us an outstanding, never ending surprising record that is as artsy as it gets: this is metal, but with EXTREMELY good taste.

If not One of... The best CD I have purchased this year. One probably needs an open mind when going into this. A friend of mine stated that it is too, "out there" for him. Not the case for myself.

Each musician puts forth some amazing listening. Yet it is also a matter of the sum is greater than the parts independently. In other words some mind blowing jamming. The Johansson brothers (Anders on drums and Jens on keys) deserve as much recognition as possible. Mattias IA Eklundh also gives us great work on the guitar. Selvaganesh plays the kanjeera. I believe this is the additional percussion. While this is not jaw dropping, it is a key element of the feel of the music. He whom the CD is being sold for, Jonas Hellborg, is simply amazing (on bass).

Other projects of Jonas Hellborg's have too much of an improvised feel for me. Again... Not the case (with this). Well structured.

Highly recommended!

This has quickly become one of my all-time favorite albums. I hope this lineup continues to release music like this. I can't for the life of me pry this album away from my CD player.

Since the early eighties, when Hellborg first appeared playing for Mahavishnu, he has continued to impress not with just his technical virtuosity but with his compositional skills as well. Although Lanes passing is continually felt in his more recent releases (Kali's Son and now Art Metal as well) this is still an excellent album that continues Hellborgs recent interest in Indian Music while adding an interesting Rock/Metal touch to the proceedings. Eklundh's playing is fantastic and his more Zappa inspired melodic sensibilities work better with Hellborg's playing then I would have thought. Anyone interested in music that spans the globe with virtuosity to spare should definitely pick this up.

Other Hellborg Albums to Listen for include

1/ Temporal Analogues of Paradies
2/ Icon
3/ Ars Moriende

...to name a few.

To give an example Hellborg's recent music is similar to Shakti (Steve Vai.. What!! not even close, although him and Hellborg did play together briefly on a P.I.L. album in the mid eighties.), but with a much more experimental/metal edge and more attention payed to song structure rather then jams... although there are Jams a-plenty. Pick up Art Metal and more Hellborg albums, you won't be let down.

Probably the best Hellborg work. If you used to listen Hellborg - buy it, if you like to listen to bass technique - buy it, if you like to hear how bass should sound - buy it. Man is almost, 50 but as fresh as very few bass players around. I have received CD month ago and only yesterday finally forced myself to remove it from my car CD changer. Trach # 8 just knocked my brains out.

Jonas Hellborg somehow manages to surprise me more and more with each new album he releases! This album is a cool blend of different music styles.