Pyramids on Mars: Echo Cosmic

Pyramids on Mars is a one man project that finds Kevin Estrella handling all of the heavy lifting by himself, serving as the guitar, bass, keyboard player, as well as the drum programmer. The project's latest release is entitled, Echo Cosmic, and is a Guitar Instrumental record much in the vein of a Joe Satriani or a Gary Hoey.

Echo Cosmic is an 11 song release that features some melodic playing as well as some Neo-Classical themed shred. The story line behind Echo Cosmic as Estrella says is, "mankind's history of broadcasting radio and TV signals for over 100 years from earth to space. Theoretically, some of these signals should be picked up by alien civilizations. We are announcing our existence through this cosmic echo we are sending out. We may be an insignificant species in a vast universe, but we are leaving a footprint that has infinite influence".

Tracks like "Death Valley Driver" invokes high speed driving with its upbeat tempo and melodic phrasing and staccato chugging, while a song like the title track "Echo Cosmic", is a vast and spatial journey with a slow and breathy David Gilmour feel.

Overall, I found Echo Cosmic to be a bit flat and choppy and the songs that are to be the vehicle to Estrella's lead work are bland. Echo Cosmic does have a few Prog and Metal moments and if you a connoisseur of Shred instrumentals, do check it out.

Track Listing
1. Dream Division
2. Battle for Rome
3. Death Valley Driver
4. Tribute
5. Heaven's Gate
6. Sailing the Oceans of Neptune
7. Spectre of Orion
8. Order of the Freemasons
9. Occam's Razor
10. Echo Cosmic
11. Dream Division (radio edit)

Added: August 31st 2015
Reviewer: Butch Jones
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2089
Language: english

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