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Mike Onesko's Guitar Army: In The Name Of Rock N Roll

Recent weeks have seen me once again wax lyrical about the latest releases from Grooveyard Records – and with good reason, for they've been universally excellent and In The Name Of Rock N Roll, the latest release from Mike Onesko's Guitar Army, is no different! If you don't already know, Onesko is one of the main protagonists in Blindside Blues Band, his six string a serious weapon in that outfit's armoury. For his Guitar Army, Mike takes that skill and marries it to that of some of tastiest six string slingers in town, the guest list including Bruce Bouillet (Racer X), Brett Ellis, Dirty Dave Osti, Martin J. Andersen (Blindstone), Janne Stark (Mountain Of Power), Jay Jesse Johnson, Craig Eikson and Doug Rappaport! As if that wasn't enough, Jeff Martin (Badlands/Racer X) also makes a couple of appearances behind the mic, his mighty voice adding authority to the already imposing riffs of "Destroyer" and "Sacred Sun"; the former (once an excellent b movie intro has played out) a joyous outburst of riffology, the latter a mid paced bruiser which muscles its way into your mind and refuses to relinquish residency. As you'd expect with this line-up, the guitar solos come thick, fast and for the throat, the assembled cast unleashing their varied bags of tricks with a precision guest laden releases are seldom blessed with, each of the tracks a guitar lover's delight. If you don't believe me simply dip into the instrumental "Warzone (Dogs Of Doom)" where you get to discover what Joe Satriani would sound like if he were deeper steeped in heavy rocking blues, while it comes as no surprise that "Speed Freak" fires out a quick succession of six string sideswipes. Although some of the best work is kept for the superb album closing tribute to the much missed Ronnie Montrose, "Child Of The Sky".

Throughout, Onesko also reveals a mighty set of lungs, his voice powering through consistently in a way which reminds of a more carefree Rick Medlocke (Blackfoot), his charismatic approach really hitting home on the album's title cut and "Keeping The Flame Alive". Special mention also has to go out to bassist Mark Kingen and drummer John Warmouth, as the pair provide their illustrious album mates the solid, sparky foundations from which their pyrotechnics really let fly. While guests Paul Alvarez (bass), Mike Stefanski and Scott Turner (both on keyboards) also give an impressive account of themselves.

It's easy to recommend this album to guitar aficionados and yet, what makes In The Name Of Rock N Roll so irresistible, is that its charms go much, much deeper than that. For while the musicianship on this album is top notch, what really makes Mike Onesko's Guitar Army the mighty force they are, is the collection of superb songs they get to shine on – and even the cover of "Good Times Bad Times" hits the heights – and how many Zep reworks can you say that about? I'll wager if you give Mike Onesko's Guitar Army a chance to impress, you'll be begging the Grooveyard to bring in conscription! Sign me up!


Track Listing
1. THE DESTROYER (WITH BRUCE BOUILLET)

2. IN THE NAME OF ROCK N' ROLL (WITH BRETT ELLIS)

3. KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE (WITH DIRTY DAVE OSTI)

4. NOTHING CAN HOLD ME DOWN (W/ MARTIN J. ANDERSEN)

5. WARZONE (DOGS OF DOOM) (WITH JANNE STARK)

6. GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES (WITH JAY JESSE JOHNSON)

7. SPEED FREAK (WITH BRETT ELLIS)

8. SACRED SUN (WITH MARTIN J. ANDERSEN)

9. CAN'T MAKE YOU LOVE ME (WITH CRAIG ERICKSON)

10. CHILD OF THE SKY (WITH DOUG RAPPOPORT)

Added: June 30th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: In The Name Of Rock N Roll at the Grooveyard
Hits: 3151
Language: english

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