Harris, Michael: Ego Decimation Profile

Guitarist Michael Harris, lately of the prog outfit Thought Chamber (with Enchant's Ted Leonard), recently reissued his 1996 instrumental album Ego Decimation Profile. Without an obvious clamoring for such a reissue, why did he do it? Well, Harris says he wanted to give the record a fuller, more contemporary sound, especially on the drums and lead guitars. Mission accomplished, as Ego Decimation Profile – too bad Harris didn't also retitle this remixed, remastered and repackaged record – is sonically fantastic.

A combination of metal, prog, funk and fusion, the album is considered by Harris aficionados to be his heaviest instrumental work. But it's also highly symphonic, with parts of opening track "Forewarning" echoing the crescendo effects in Cheap Trick's "Dream Police" and "Pawn to King IV" evoking the introduction of royalty before sliding into the perfectly titled "Grandscape." (I can't even imagine how awesome this melodic masterpiece would sound with lyrics and a big chorus.)

Harris plays guitars, bass and what few keys can be heard on the album, and it's all quite impressive. In fact, it might even be enough to introduce the man's music to a new generation of listeners.

Track Listing:
1. Forewarning
2. Vicious Uppercut
3. Stratus-Fear
4. Julius Seizure
5. Pawn to King IV
6. Grandscape
7. Hair On the E String
8. Freudian Trip
9. Brainwarp
10. Terminus Epic

Added: April 16th 2008
Reviewer: Michael Popke
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Related Link: Lion Music
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Language: english

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