Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends: Brothers In Arms

This latest in quite a long line of star studded guitar albums from the Emmy Award winning guitarist, composer and producer comes under the guise of Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends and is called Brothers In Arms. It’s an apt title, what with the album ‘featuring exclusive songs inspired by those military soldiers who have fought for their country. Partial proceeds from the sales go to the Fisher House Foundation, fisherhouse.org who supply housing to veterans' families while they are hospitalized.’ And credit to Tarquin and his helpers not only for that but also because unlike so many of these ‘here comes the guest star’ albums each and every one of the songs and performances sounds cohesive.

As fitting for a man of his talents, Tarquin himself wrote all of these instrumental tracks as well as producing, playing bass, providing the main guitar parts and many of the solos, while Reggie Pryor handled the drums. First of the big hitters shows up in the shape of Joe Satriani, “Speed Of Sound� much more tasteful and flowing than its name suggests, before UFO band member and solo artist Vinnie Moore lends his talents to the equally excellent “Kiss My Axe�, which has a killer groove. It’s Bumblefoot stepping in for “Luxor�, doing an excellent job as you might expect. As before though, what impresses you most is that the tracks as a whole aren’t just vehicles for the superstars to show off - don’t get me wrong, they do show off and it’s great fun hearing them do so but the tracks themselves have structure, melody and interest beyond the fret bending cameos.

The Budapest Orchestra along with Johannes Welk offer up some drama on “Hounds Of Hell�, whereas “Devil’s Tombstone� finds Alex De Rosso of Dokken peeling out the excellent solo. “Black Widow�, aided and abetted by Travis Stever (Coheed & Cambria) heightens the drama, which the more Sabbath doom laden “Stryker� - which had me checking the credits to see if Jake E Lee had been hired to provide the embellishments here, but no, it’s the outstanding Jeff Duncan of Armored Saint - continues in fine style. From there Welk returns for “D-Day�, which provides a fitting sense of urgency and bombast, while Gerald Gradwohl of Tangerine Dream fires a heavy space bolt out for “Saigon Sally�. All of which leaves Chris Haskett from the Henry Rollins Band to help close things out in jagged, uncompromising fashion on “Purple Heart�.

Yeah, I know, there seems to be a star studded, guest laden project released every three days or so and it’s easy to become jaded as they tumble forth. Thankfully, every now and again one lands that is actually way more than the sum of its parts. Brothers In Arms is one such album and anyone who likes heavy, melodic, varied and well constructed guitar instrumental music should check it out.

Track Listing
1. Speed Of Sound - feat. Joe Satriani     
2. Kiss My Axe - feat. Vinnie Moore
3. Luxor - feat. Bumblefoot
4. Hounds Of Hell - feat Johannes Weik & Budapest Symphony Orchestra     
5. Devil's Tombstone - feat. Alex De Rosso
6. Black Widow - feat. Travis Stever     
7. Stryker - feat. Jeff Duncan     
8. D-Day - feat. Johannes Weik     
9. Saigon Sally - feat. Gerald Gradwohl     
10. Purple Heart - feat. Chris Haskett

Added: January 14th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Brothers In Arms @ bandcamp
Hits: 314
Language: english

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