All of the band members attended Berklee College of Music at i request or another, too their pedigrees present upward inward the flawless chops they exhibit. Guitarist Chris Fox plays some rattling melodic lines alongside a audio that reminds me almost of Allan Holdsworth too Jeff Beck inward many places. Influenced past times Rick Wakeman too Eddie Jobson, Matt Bocchino provides a slap-up symphonic stone background to much of this jazz fusion, oftentimes favoring the organ every bit his weapon of choice. Bass thespian Wayne Zito lists Chris Squire every bit i of his influences, but I listen a lot of fretless bass a la Jeff Berlin too the like. And drummer Mark Conese is to a greater extent than on the jazz side of drumming (think Bill Bruford too Billy Cobham), but he keeps a strong, confident groove driving these songs every bit well.
If I could fantasize an all-instrumental supergroup of Beck, Jobson, Berlin too Cobham, it would audio similar this! They create non disappoint, folks - rattling energetic too interesting, alongside original too complex compositions.
The 3-1/2 infinitesimal "Lesser Beings" is the exclusively quirky/spacy rail that they could choose left off the album (and delighted me fifty-fifty more). But the repose of the album is fast-paced, melodic, fusiony, groove-driven, symphonic progressive stone bliss...and gnats a fact ;-)
This tape is i of those records that delivers just what i am looking for inward a record; rising/falling activity too a marker of surgical physical care for that exclusively gets ameliorate every bit the tape progresses. Each rail has a life of it's ain every bit good every bit a life inside the greater context of the record. Just inward the foremost few tracks, the band shows yous what they tin do, too trust me...they tin do. From the rattling beginning, to the rattling end, the tape shows the diverse types of music the band industrial plant alongside spell genuinely illustrating the audio of the band itself. With multiple movements inward each slice too virtuosic mastery of their instruments, helmet of gnats proves to locomote an outstanding progressive band that, yous tin tell, puts much help into the production of their music.
H5N1 Helmet of Gnats biography
Members:
Chris Fox- Guitar- Berklee College of music. Played briefly alongside Eddie Jobson (Zappa,UK,Yes)
Mathew Bocchino -Keyboards- Attended Berklee Collegel of music
Mark Conose-Drums-Berklee College of Music too Miami Univeristy
Wayne Zito-Bass-Berklee College of Music
As yous tin meet the members of this band choose a slap-up pedigree inward music. They convey their assorted talents to the grouping known every bit H5N1 Helmet of Gnats. As that cite suggests music high inward unloose energy but balanced inward virtuosity. H5N1 blend of Jazz alongside a dash of classical elements underlined past times some rattling proficient inward your confront rock.
In 1980 guitarist Chris Fox too keyboardist Mathew Bocchino decided to cast a band spell inward high school. This band was to play the music of such progressive giants every bit UK, Frank Zappa too Kansas. They called themselves Left Testicle too exclusively played iii concerts (small wonder alongside that name). By 1982 this band had morphed into to a greater extent than of a fusion comprehend band called "By-Product" doing covers past times Return to Forever, Bruford too The Dixie Dregs. Their alive shows left everyone wanting more.
The band changed their cite to Helmet of Gnats inward belatedly 1982. After several draw of piece of job upward changes at bass too drums AHoG played to a greater extent than often than non Dixie Dregs covers. More Personnel changes left the band without a bass player. They recorded some demos using a Roland midi sequencer for the bass lines but past times 1988 they had disbanded.
Chris too Matt reformed inward 1990 a to a greater extent than mainstream band alongside a woman mortal vocalist. They called themselves "Doctor Curious" named later the singers gynecologist. After a curt fourth dimension Chris too Matt decided they wanted a render to the instrumental adventurous music they loved. They fired the signer too took dorsum the cite Helmet of Gnats. They released a self titled album inward 1996 alongside Nicki Defala on bass too Nicki Vitiello on drums. By 2000 the band had replaced the Nicki's alongside Wayne Zito on bass too Mark Conese on drums. In 2004 they released their instant CD H5N1 Helmet Of Gnats II. They tour alongside this draw of piece of job upward to this day.
Fans of fusion such every bit Return to Forever too Dixie Dregs volition bask this band. Recommended highly!
Why this creative mortal must locomote listed inward www.progarchives.com :
Great band inward the fusion agency of Return to Forever too Dixie Dregs. Samples tin locomote heard on the bands spider web site:
http://www.helmetofgnats.com
Discography:
H5N1 Helmet of Gnats 1996
H5N1 Helmet of Gnats II 2004
I received this CD thru SwapaCD from Chris, the guitar thespian :-)
Track Listing:
1. Almost Babylon
2. Chinese Leftovers
3. Yesterday's Brain
4. Crumbs
5. Lesser Beings
6. Misfit Toys
7. Chimps inward Space
Personnel:
Chris Fox- Guitar
Mathew Bocchino -Keyboards
Mark Conose-Drums
Wayne Zito-Bass
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