The Hideous Sun Demons are a 3 piece instrumental project consisting of Japanese guitarist Toshi Hiketa, drummer Ray Luzier and bassist James LoMenzo. These names will be familiar to many thank to work with White Lion and Black Label Society. Most recently the 3 appeared on David Lee Roth's last solo album and subsequent world tour.

The album is a strong slice of virtuoso musicianship firmly planted in the progressive field. Fans of work of acts such as Liquid Tension Experiment. Their is a strong jazzy vibe to much of the work here, but it still rockin. Toshi Hiketa proves himself to be somewhat of a monster player, with a quirky Vai like style and you can see why Diamond Dave chose these guys to back him.

Rating - 80%

Paul Gilbert's live acoustic album recorded at the Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo finally sees a domestic mid price release courtesy of those good folks at Mascot Records. Acoustic Samurai sees Gilbert play a collection of tracks from his past solo releases as well as some cuts from Racer X and a couple of covers including a good take on Abba's Dancing Queen joined only by Linus Of Hollywood on bass and backing vocals.

Those expecting an acoustic shred album are in for somewhat of a shock as this sees Pablo Gilberto focus on the song. However, for what Gilbert's fans may miss in electric output will be more than made up with the feel good fun factor in evidence throughout. Couple this in with an excitable Japanese crowd and you have a rather good live album worth the price of purchase for the version of I Like Rock alone.

Racer X fans should pick up this release just to hear the ultra cool acoustic version of Scarified.

Rating - 80%

Alex Skolnick was one of my first guitar heroes thanks to his superb work in thrash metal outfit Testament. Alex however left the band in 1992 after their best album The Ritual which showcased Skolnick's jazzy metal leads at their best. From here Skolnick went to work as Criss Oliva's replacement in Savatage before seemingly disappearing off the face of the planet! However, Skolnick was in fact devoting his time to his #1 passion - Jazz. Word crept out a few years later that Alex was playing the NYC jazz scene and wowing audiences with his fresh new material and jazz takes on metal classics, sacriledge? Well if Transformation is anything to go by he may have been onto something as this is original, enjoyable and likely to appeal to Skolnick fans past and present.

The covers as mentioned earlier include takes on Judas Priest's Electric Eye, Pink Floyd's Money, Scorpions Blackout, Iron Maiden's The Trooper, Dio's Don't Talk to Strangers and Deep Purple's Highway Star. Some of these work well e.g The Trooper, Don't Talk To Strangers whilst others use the originals as template to go off into jazz land.

Those expecting loads of distorted guitar look elsewhere, there is some splattered around, most notably on Highway Star where Skolnick still proves he has the chops (though the fuzz tone is a little OTT). Overall Transformatin reminds us that Skolnick is a musician in the business for the right reasons e.g. for the music and Transformation is testament (excuse the pun) to the fact that you get your rewards if you stick at it.

Rating - 60%

An re-release of the debut album from the Rolf Munkes led band Empire. As with the bands second album (Trading Souls) this is a solid slice of classic metal and features guest performances from the likes of Mark Boals, Neil Murray, Don Airey, Lance King and Anders Johansson.

If anything I would say I prefer Trading Souls, but Hypnotica represents good song writing, very clear production and good performances all round. Mark Boals actually sounds better here than on the latest Ring Of Fire release.

Book Of Reflections is somewhat of a Lion Music all star supergroup featuring guitars from Rusty Cooley and Lars Eric Mattson, vocals from Andy Engberg (ex-Lion's Share/Section A) , Hubi Meisel (solo) and Mikael Holm (Winterlong) with keyboards courtesty of Vitalij Kuprij (Artension).

Stylistically this is fast and furious Power Metal meets Neo Classical with some Progressive touches. Mikael Holm vocals are as impressive as ever, particularly on one of the albums highlights Guardian Of Time - home to a classic Rising Force feel with a soaring chorus and some blazing solos. Much to my suprise Vitalij Kuprij plays a quite understated role throughout allowing the guitars to be the dominant force on the solo front, though what he does contribute is a good underpinning background to all tracks.

Book Of Reflections does take a few listens to really get into and even then Hubi Meisel's vocals don't really do a lot for me (especially compared to Mikael Holm's), yet overall this is a solid enough slice of Power Neo Prog Metal with some good performances.

Rating - 75%

Patrik Carlsson hails from Sweden and much to my surprise the guy isn't in the neo-classical vein favouring a much more Vai like approach. There is a definite Vai humour running through much of the material on Phraseology yet unlike many others Carlsson manages to make it sound original and not just like he is aping his hero.

Carlsson certainly has a good grasp on modern rock guitar techniques including a formidable whammy bar technique, yet its his clever use of natural harmonics (again quite Vai like) that made this guy stand out to me. The Survivor has several changes of direction yet all work well with one another, whilst the melodic work on Still Believe shows Carlsson knows a thing or two about phrasing. Carlsson also has some formidable country chops as highlighted on Twilight Zone. The rest of the material is equally diverse and well produced and Lion Music has found yet another talented guitar player.

Fans of Steve Vai or just good guitar music be sure to check this one out.

Rating - 85%