Guitar Zeus ROCKS!
S. Serge | Marietta, GA United States | 09/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When you combine the immense talents of legendary Vanilla Fudge/Rod Stewart/Jeff Beck drummer Carmine Appice, vocal master Kelly Keeling (MSG, TSO, Paris Keeling, etc.) and bass virtuoso Tony Franklin (The Firm, Whitesnake, etc.), you already have something very special. Add to that a who's-who of famous rock guitarists and you had better strap yourself down. "Conquering Heroes," the two disc best of compilation from Guitar Zeus - Appice's mid-90's brainchild co-written with Keeling over a span of several years - delivers a knock out punch of various styles and intensities of guitar-fueled rock. Mr. Big's Paul Gilbert lights the fire with the funky, edgy and slightly chaotic vibe of the lead track and first single "Dislocated ". "Four Miles High" shows a grunge side, with gut-busting licks from humble rock deity Steve Morse. The Nuge gets in on the act twice, not surprisingly trying to tear your head off with the supersonic rockers "Days Are Nights" and "Even Up the Score". Not all of the songs proceed at warp speed, however. Slash displays Beatles and blues influences on the psychedelic flavored "Where You Belong". "Doin' Fine" and "Perfect Day" are burgeoning emotive power ballads graced by two masters of the art: Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell and Ratt's Warren DiMartini respectively. Seymour Duncan even joins forces with action star Steven Seagal on the smokey, back alley instrumental "G.Z. Blues". The majority of the twenty-seven tracks are about ROCK, with pounding drums, driving rhythms, searing vocals, and of course plenty of phenomenal guitar work, with other six string legends including Neal Schon, Zakk Wylde, Richie Sambora, Brian May, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jennifer Batten and Leslie West, among others. When you combine this with the prolific songwriting tandem of Appice and Keeling (and on some songs Franklin) who create songs that have a signature vibe with enough freedom to allow the players to inject their own musical personalities along with thoughtful, intelligent lyric writing, you have a powerhouse rock collection that more than lives up to expectations considering the plethora of legendary names involved with it. - Mark Waterbury, Music Morsels"
All the Guitar Gods in an album!
Emmanouil Saloustros | Greece | 10/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Guitar Zeus is an album for serious rockers and music lovers.
The biggest names, the greatest artists, the absolute stars are following Carmine Appice
in an amazing hard-rocky world.
Brian May, Richie Sambora, Steve Mors, Slash, are only few of the special guests.
It is really worth it!
Buy it and enjoy it!"