Project Steiger - Defiance
Steiger Productions

file under hardrock / aor

Richard V.: First impressions can be deceptive. When I received this cd I expected a terrible album. The cd cover looked like a Photoshop composition with an Ibanez guitar and lines like “instra-metal guitar”. Song titles like “Run 4 Cover”, “Rock It” and “Here Come The Heroes” made me fear for the worst.
Thankfully that was only appearance, because the music presented by guitar player Ken Steiger is well worth listening too. On eleven songs mister Steiger shows us what he can do on a guitar, assisted by former Blue Murder bass player Tony Franklin and ex-Dream Theater, ex-Alice Cooper and ex-Yngwie Malmsteen keyboard player Derek Sherinian. The songs are a wet dream for fans of the instrumental cd’s Mike Varney released in the eighties on his own Shrapnel label. Ken Steiger is a shredder similar to Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen etc.

The arguments pro and against this kind of music still remain after fifteen years. The musicianship is excellent and during the solo’s Ken really hits out, but the music lacks emotion. Music is about emotion, but shredders like to show off and care less for emotional impact. People who play guitar themselves or get off on technical magic will appreciate the music on this disc. People who like sensitive playing (for example Gary Moore) can neglect this product. There’s not that much to say about the individual songs, because they do not differ that much from each other. Even the tribute to Santana (“Persuasion”) is no exception. Why a shredder makes a tribute to Carlos Santana is completely beyond me. “Run 4 Cover” is a mix between Vai and Chastain, while “Child Of The Storm” and “Neutron Flux” sound like Satriani compositions during his “Crystal Planet”-era. The latter contains a heavy riff, which will enlighten many metal fans. Closing piece “Here Come The Heroes” contains a few references to well known themes by other guitar players. Former Ozzy bass player Phil Soussan deserves thumps-up for the quality of the production, because where many Varney’s products failed, Project Steiger succeeds. The production is splendid.

Rating: 75/100 (details)

http://www.projectsteiger.com