Guitarsnake is a project put together by multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Notarianni and this debut album features six instrumentals with solo electric guitar at the heart of each song. Even after only a few plays it's fair to say that the music of Guitarsnake is very much an homage to the music created by modern and contemporary rock guitar players. If you goes back to the eighties and then move forwards in time there's a very long list of guitarists who have pushed the levels of  technique and composition in many directions, Satriani, Vai, Yngwie, Eric Johnson, Shawn Lane and Van Halen, the list is endless and it’s apparent that Notarianni has absorbed much from these players as the music contains many references and flavours from the aforementioned and many more besides.

The album kicks off with an intro that features sound bites of the now iconic Martin Luther King's "I have a dream” speech  and, as his words fade away, the opening number of the same name surges forth with modern and slightly industrial sounding rhythms but, on the turn of a beat, moves effortlessly from aggressive to flowing and melodic. Likewise “I Believe” is unashamedly all about melody, an almost flute like tone providing a delicate fragility. “On The Road” features Victor Lafuente and the guitar tone breathes thanks to some of the distortion being rolled back leading to notes that jump out and have a nice “sting to them. “If” is dedicated to Joe Satriani and hence its plain to hear the inspiration of Satriani's style in the harmonies and the wah drenched lead lines.

“Silvian” is built upon a simple, but tasty, series of chords that lend themselves to improvisation and the track contains some of the most effective simple lead lines on the album as well as some of the most explosive during the midway point with some serious technique on display and then finally “Thinking Of You” closes things out,  short but crisp and yet subtly melancholy.

“One Life Is Not Enough” serves as a great introduction to the music and composition style of Guitarsnake. As guitar players go Nicholas and Victor know that melody will always be king and that technique is only a means to an end. Saying that perhaps they could try to let rip just a little more and  try some different drum sounds as, at times, the drums seem to overpower the guitars. But such small quibbles aside, when it comes to the music, Guitarsnake is a very promising new project.

Al Hey