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Virtual Virtuosity
(2003)
- Terminus Ad Quem
- Dark Valley
- Depression
- Air-to-Air
- The Edge
- Virtual Virtuosity
- Fictitious Rhapsody
- Your Majesty
- Evermore…
- The Boring Machine
- Liquidity
With Virtual Virtuosity, Theodore Ziras delivers
a very accomplished album in the neo-classical genre. Closer
the style of George Bellas than Yngwie Malmsteen, Ziras certainly
has an excellent grip of composition and classical stylings.
His sweep picked arpeggios are super clean and he mixes these
up nicely with some pretty strong melodies.
Opener Terminus Ad Quem
is a very good example on what is on offer throughout. Some
great harmonised lines mix with great clean picking. Ziras has
knows when to let a note breathe, this makes the super fast
parts have much more impact.
The title track is home to some nice classically
influenced runs, and here the whole package comes together exceedingly
well. Ziras tone is full and has great clarity. The drum programming
is of a very high standard and the overall production puts many
bigger names to shame.
My favourite track on offer is the slower Evermore..',
this has a great melody that is built upon with simple harmony
lines yet it works extremely well. When the sweep picked sections
kick in you do get the feeling of going on a journey. Its shows
that Ziras can play slow and make it effective, this gives the
package more depth and the use of light and shade on the track
is very good indeed.
The Boring Machine
is anything but boring, home to great melodies and a real strong
progression. Very classical in nature yet sounds very fresh
with a modern metal slant added to it.
Overall Virtual Virtuosity is a very impressive
package, it does show that Ziras has room to grow and I hope
this will come on future releases, the fact that he knows to
slow down in places means he stands a better chance of making
it in the more conservative fans homes rather than the speed
obsesssed followers. But generally a good album that shows a
lot of promise.
Click the G9 logo above to hear soundclips and buy online.
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Theodore
Ziras
Genre: Neo-Classical / Progressive / Shred
Theodore Ziras, born in 1975 and hailing from
Poros, Greece started his musical path at aged 13 with Piano
and music theory lessons. Two years later in 1990 he started
playing guitar which went on to become his main instrument.
Right from the start Theodore was fascinated by musicians with
very high technical ability regardless of style.
At age 18 Theodore moved to Athens and continued his studies
in Music Theory along jazz harmony, rhythm and counterpoint.
His main influences include anything from classical music, rock,
progressive metal to jazz and fusion.
In 1994 Ziras joined the prog power metal
greek band Ice Divine and in 1998 joined the prog metal band
Guardian Angel. These band released a few demos and supported
some high profile acts such a Iced Earth and U.D.O. on a tour
of Greece,
In late 1998 Theodore left Greece and went
to study at the Guitar Institute of London to further his studies
in peformance and composition. It was here he started working
on his first solo instrumental release. He graduated in 2001
with a degree in Music Performance & Composition.
In 2001 Ziras returned to Athens and signed
a record deal with 'Steel Gallery Records'. His first solo cd
'Trained To Play' was released in April 2001. Highlighting a
mix of orchestral neo-classical metal with complex harmony/orchestration
and dazzling lead guitar work. The reviews were steller and
helped create a buzz in Ziras work.
It was then that Theodore had to do 2 years national
service, during this time he set to work on his second solo
release which saw the light of day in March 2003. Entitled 'Virtual
Virtuosity' it helped strengthen Ziras reputation further.
In addition to working on his own material
Theodore teaches guitar both in person and in the form of lessons
available from his website.
Official
Theodore Ziras Website
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