Tag Archives: Gus G

Jeff Scott Soto’s SOTO Releasing Album, Streaming Lyric Video For “The Fall”

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Jeff Scott Soto’s SOTO will be releasing their debut album Inside The Vertigo on January 30, 2015 via earMUSIC. Watch the lyric video for “The Fall” here.

SOTO is comprised of Jeff’s most current solo band: Jorge Salan (lead guitar), BJ (keyboards, guitars), David Z (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums).

Produced by Jeff Scott Soto, Inside The Vertigo features tracks co-written with his bandmates as well as a of his famous friends/colleagues. Collaborators include guitarists Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE), Jason Bieler (SAIGON KICK), Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB) and Joel Hoekstra (NIGHT RANGER, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), all of whom perform on their penned tracks for the album. Others appearing as guests/co-writers are Casey Grillo (KAMELOT), Connor Engstrom, Tony Dickinson, Leo Mancini, Hugo Mariutti and Gary Schutt.

Inside The Vertigo was recorded during the latter months of 2013 and mixed/mastered in Boston by Soto’s longtime engineer and friend John Ellis.

Inside The Vertigo track listing:
01. Final Say
02. The Fall
03. Wrath
04. Break
05. Narcissistically Yours
06. End of Days
07. Inside The Vertigo
08. When I’m Older
09. Trance
10. Jealousy
11. Karma’s Kiss
12. Fall To Pieces

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Gus G. – I Am The Fire

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The early-90’s saw a sea change in the world of rock and metal, and a slew of great albums adorned the mainstream. These weren’t frilly-shirted or leather-trousered types, these were check-shirted and ripped jeans types, bringing some incredible music. Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden shaped the soundscape. Yes, it meant “metal” had to go and lick its wounds, but it never went away. Indeed, Pantera, White Zombie and Metallica will tell you, it certainly didn’t stop good metal bands being successful or releasing great albums (OK, Metallica’s last great album was pre-grunge, but you get my point, and besides Garage Inc was bloody good).

But while metal burrowed underground and into mainland Europe, “Rock” was mortally wounded. Manowar’s black arrow of death sent straight to the heart of all those who played false metal was actually fired by bands that didn’t play metal at all (though Dirt, for one, is one heavy motherfucker). But, do you know what? That wasn’t a bad thing at all, as it meant the end of hundreds of unimaginative, middle of the road plod rock bands.

As well played as it is, Gus G.’s I Am The Fire (Century Media) is the exact sort of album that it was great that grunge killed. A guitar “virtuoso” proving that he can shred, widdle, and solo with the best of them, but without the distinctiveness or feel of the great (I’d take a Slash or Adrian Smith or Ritchie Blackmore solo over one of Gus’s any day, maybe technically not as proficient but guys who make their leads sing) but has no imagination beyond stock chords for “riffs” and obvious, underwhelming vocal lines when songwriting. It’s like Gus is saying “this album isn’t about how great I am on guitar, it’s about songs”. Yes Gus. Boring ones’

Joined by a cast of proficient if unexciting B-list vocalists, the two best tracks on here are the two instrumentals; ‘Vengeance’ featuring Dave Ellefson, a spiky track that could have been the music under a track off Rust In Peace and ‘Terrified’ featuring Billy Sheehan, a riffier, thrashier number.

 

4 / 10

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STEVE TOVEY