DEREK SHERINIAN
Blood of the Snake
Inside Out Music 2006
www.dereksherinian.com

What’s the 4-1-1?
Former Dream Theater keyboardist unleashes his latest solo effort with a little help from his hard rock friends.

Genre
Hard rock / progressive

The Good
“Czar of Steel” is everything you’ve come to expect from a John Petrucci/Sherinian collaboration; funky effects heavy guitars and elaborate keyboard runs. Zakk Wylde brings along the heavy riffage as well as his throaty vocals on “Man with No Name.” There’s a beautiful string and piano section that breaks up the thunder. Emotional guitar bends dominate “Been There Before.” They completely consume most of the song as the rest of the instruments come in for the emotional parts. Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis helps compliment Wylde on this one. “Blood of the Snake” employs lots of progressive keyboard tones. Wylde provided the speedy yet steady riffs. Who could that be on lead guitar? There’s no doubt that it’s Yngwie J. Malmsteen playing that same damn A harmonic minor solo he plays on everything. “On the Moon” is a great marriage of cool saxophone and romantic piano. “The Monsoon” hits you just as hard as the actual storm would with Wylde and Malmsteen teaming up again for the guitar onslaught. For more of this dynamic duo’s monstrous assault, be sure to catch “Viking Massacre.”

The Bad
The cover of “In the Summertime” is so out of place with the rest of the album. It’s not really a song that Billy Idol should be trying to pull off. They could have pumped it up a bit more instead of just the ending.

The Verdict
Blood of the Snake is another winner for Sherinian. Some instrumental albums get boring after a while, but not with any of his recently. Sherinian is a master of his instrument and brings in some of the best metal guitarist to blow the roof off of this puppy.

Did you know?
Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis was once a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s touring band.

Rating: out of 5

Related Reviews:
Derek Sherinian - Mythology

--George Dionne