MAXXXWELL CARLISLE - Visions Of Speed And Thunder
June 9, 2015, 8 years ago
(Independent)
Fist-pumping, American heavy metal is what you’ll get from mohawk-sporting bodybuilder guitarist Maxxxwell Carlisle (Hellion) on his third full-length album, Visions Of Speed And Thunder, a compilation featuring previously recorded tracks. Carlisle flexes his muscles (I couldn’t pass that pun up!) by handling bass, keyboards and lead guitars. Carlisle is joined by some of today’s best shredders, including classically-trained electric cellist Tina Guo on “Duet For Electric Guitar And Electric Cello In A Minor.” Trade-off shredding is the name of the game on guitar duet “Axis Accelerator”, which includes Michael Angelo Batio. “The Power of Metal Compels Me” features some fiery fret burning from current Alice Cooper and former Iron Maidens guitarist Nita Strauss.
The title track kicks things off with some unrelentless, hard-charging trad metal riffs and piercing wails from guest vocalist Fang Von Wrathenstein of Lords Of The Trident. As you can imagine, the guitar skills from every player here is exceptional. Although Visions Of Speed And Thunder is good, it’s not great. However, fans of Manowar, Exciter and Painkiller-era Judas Priest will probably worship it. If headbangable, straight-ahead metal songs is what you crave, then Visions Of Speed And Thunder will more than do the trick.
