G5 Summit
"Various Artists"
(D.A.M./mp3.com) 

Well, here we have it, the latest bunch of Eddie Van Halen/Joe Satriani wannabees. Nah, just kidding! The five guitarists featured on this album (Wayne Edwards, Chris Hattingh, Jim Reindel, Mark Schuster, and Adam Puchalski) are in fact all very good players, who crank out some jamming tunes here. The album is all instrumental save for one song, "Eye To Eye" by Wayne Edwards. If I had to pick a favorite song from this album, this would be it. It's the most "metal" tune on the disc, very influenced by Iron Maiden and Queensryche. It even sounds a little bit like Maiden's "Stranger In A Strange Land", and Wayne's singing is very influenced by Geoff Tate. Wayne plays a mean solo on it, too! Wayne also contributes one other song to "G5", the untitled closing track, in which he shows off his guitar skills live. As for the rest of the album, it's a guitar bonanza all the way, with lots of nimble-fingered playing and fret board scorching! Mark Schuster's "Alter Ego" and "Days Like These" really pack a punch; Chris Hattingh's  "Remorse Code" (clever title!) and Adam Puchalski's "El Toro" are bouncy little numbers. Adam's style is also a little different from your average "guitar hero." His song "Groundhog Day" has a funky vibe to it, while his third contribution, "No News Is Good News", is a little mellower. Some of the songs even poke fun at famous guitar heroes. Another one of Chris's songs is called "I Am Not A Viking", quite obviously a parody of Yngwie Malmsteen's classic "I Am A Viking". The actual song, however, is more Satriani than Malmsteen, and Chris's other song is called "Not For Teachers". No prizes for guessing what inspired this one! It even sounds like "Hot For Teacher!" Jim Reindel's contributions to "G5" are "Avalanche" and "Triangular Meltdown", both hard rocking guitar jams, very influenced by Satriani and Vai, on which Jim flies across his fret board! I found this compilation to be a very enjoyable showcase of some talented guitarists, although I wish there was more singing. Aside from that, these five axe slingers can certainly jam with the best of them! Keep rocking, G5!  

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