Michael Lee Firkins

"Perspective" is the second studio album by the guitarist Jason Becker, released independently on May 21, 1996, through Jason Becker Music and reissued on May 22, 2001, through Warner Bros. Records. This album strays away from his shredding past to more compositional based pieces. One of the main reasons for this was because of the affects ALS was having on his playing ability. Shred guitar still apparent in most of the songs but isn't the main center of the compositions. The album consists of several different musical styles such as chanting and classical elements.

On his 1993 Warner Bros. debut, instrumental rocker Gary Hoey plucks and hammers his way through 40 minutes' worth of post-Satriani rock noodling. Despite several attempts at genre-bending blues and soul references, Animal Instinct is all melodic (bordering on adult/soft) rock. The aggressive opener, "Mass Hysteria," and the upbeat shuffle "Texas Son" count as highlights, but the real standout is probably "Drive," a cut that boasts what is clearly the record's finest melody. Hoey plays admirably, and his supporting cast – Tony Franklin (bass) and Frankie Banali (drums) – also provide solid performances. Animal Instinct is a respectable offering for sure, but Hoey doesn't demonstrate a rhythmic or melodic capacity anywhere near that of his obvious influences, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Fans of virtuoso guitar rock would do better to search out superior shred material from the likes of Michael Lee Firkins, Tony MacAlpine, and Blues Saraceno before picking up this or any Gary Hoey disc.

2006 solo album by this hard rock vocalist who fronted Badlands, Artension and, most recently, Royal Hunt. Features musical assistance from Chris Caffery and Jeff Plate from Savatage.

Mike Slamer remains one of the unsung and criminally underestimated guitar heroes of rock. Much like fellow peers Michael Lee Firkins and Reb Beach, he is one of those guys with amazing chops, touching all sorts of work over the course of a career and never quite realizing the credit they deserve. He has been the guy behind some of the most amazing melodic hard rock releases of the past 20 years. The list includes, but is not limited to, Steelhouse Lane, Seventh Key, Slamer, and Terry Brock, and we can’t forget his work in the 80’s with Streets (featuring Kansas singer Steve Walsh) and the 70’s with City Boy…