Little wicked John is back and although he’s not playing with the matches, he’s guitar it’s on fire! I thought it’s his guitar, but just like that it might be an axe or a rifle as well – after all we’re living some strange and violent times!
Definitively John 5 is one of the most virtuoso and versatile guitarist of the modern rock/metal scene and he had a major contribution to the body of work of some influential artists such as Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. “Careful With That Axe” it’s a guitar album, he’s sixth solo album following “The Art of Malice” released 4 years ago, but it’s a quality and enjoyable throughout album consist of 9 songs plus intro. Complex and technical guitar solos and chain-saw riffs are both deadly weapons in the arsenal of John 5. The music it’s a vivid mixture of neo-classical virtuoso moments with Malmsteen and Satriani resonances and wicked, heavy guitar riffs.
While “Flight Of The Vulcan Kelly” reminded me of “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov, the very next “Jerry’s Breakdown” it’s a bluegrass/country flavored acoustic rundown. You never know with John 5 what’s coming up next and that it’s truly wonderful!
And the whole album it’s a constant carousel, a fabulous road-trip or a roller-coaster, we’ve got blues and jazz (Jiffy Jam), rock, rock’n’roll (Villisca), metal and Spanish, flamenco flavored moments (El Cucuy), each moment have it’s own magic and every little piece it’s tasty and it’s not that type of guitar album that most of the guitar “gods” (“heroes”, whatever) deliver. John 5 it’s not about “watch what (and how) I can play!”, but like Buckethead he’s albums are about the joy of playing – and for us the joy of listening. And if you wanna bang, there are a few songs such as “Portrait Of Sidney Sloan” which are perfectly suitable to set the world on fire!
Above the fact that he’s one of the premium guitarists of the modern rock and metal scene, once again, John 5 proves he’s not only gifted, but highly inspired too.
Tracklist:
01. We Need To Have A Talk About John
02. This Is My Rifle
03. Flight Of The Vulcan Kelly
04. Jerry’s Breakdown
05. Villisca
06. Portrait Of Sidney Sloan
07. Jiffy Jam
08. Six Hundred and Sixty Six Pickers In Hell
09. El Cucuy
10. The Dream Slayer
Mandatory, buy it or steal it, you will enjoy it throughout!!
John 5 – Official Site
John 5 – Facebook
