MIKE LEPOND - Mike LePond's Silent Assassins

October 13, 2014, 9 years ago

(Knife Fight Media)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 7.0

review

MIKE LEPOND - Mike LePond's Silent Assassins

New Jersey-based bassist Mike LePond wrote/recorded his first solo effort (nine songs), stepping outside the confines of Symphony X, with the aid of fellow Garden State musicos: Metal Mike Chlasciak (Halford/Pain Museum) and Mike Romeo (Sym X) handling lead guitars (LePond does rhythm) alongside the piercing vocals of Alan Tecchio (Hades/WatchTower). Many of the compositions include an introductory instrumental passage (guess who?). “Apocalypse Rider” announces its presence, kicking off the disc with ripping guitar (and some nice noodling elsewhere), prior to Tecchio's incendiary highs and ultimately ending with an extended bit of four string rumbling. Said instrument also begins the Eastern flavored, first third of 'Red Death”, an otherwise early 80s American metal offering (bits of Anthrax influence, come the chorus). What appears to be harpsichord (or guitar effect mimicking the same) gives way to acoustic guitar and orchestral strings on “The Quest”, before veering towards thrash intensity. It also features a Blackmore's Night drum/violin clap-along section, before abruptly returning to the speedier tempo. “The Outsider” has a groove (similar to what Tecchio did in Non-Fiction), but is predominately a guitar workout. Certainly not a clone of LePond's day-job, which is a welcome departure.



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