Marc Rizzo - Rotation

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Generally, guitar orientated albums are truly boring, because if you’re not a guitarist, the experience can cure the most serious case of insomnia. It seems that the attention of many in music demands vocals. But there are some guys that really have something to say only with their fingers. That description fits on MARC RIZZO’s new album, “Rotation”. Of course, Marc’s name is linked to bands as CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOULFLY, and ILL NIÑO, but it’s impressive that he bears such refined technique that can join together Metal and Flamenco music. He has a very good musical feeling, and even his shreds are not boring or annoying. No, it’s the opposite: he can express himself musical in a better and deeper way, and even when his modern Metal influences appear, he can deal with them in a better way than in his bands.

Yes, this album is really impressive! Produced by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (the same guy who worked with names as ROB ZOMBIE, HATEBREED, SOULFLY and others), we can say that the sound quality fits on a mix of a modern and aggressive insight, but with enough clarity that allows us to understand the musical arrangements of all songs that we can hear that Marc is a minimalist on his playing.

Melodies, modernity and an excellent technique is what his music is about, so you can hear the abrasive groove of “Downside Up”, the modern Groove/Thrash Metal influence that can remind something of SOULFLY on “Signum” (besides the melodies on Marc’s solos is far above from what he shows on the band), the intense feeling that flows from “Spectral Intensities”, his Flamenco musical side on “Ad Pila Et Spathas” (that shows some percussions that has a Brazilian/Caribbean influence), the oppressive modern melodies of “Rotation” (very good and heavy work from bass guitar and drums during the rhythmic changes), and brutal grasp of “Thrash Boogie” can be pointed as the album’s finest songs. It’s an instrumental album that deserves to be side by side with Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien”, because it’s excellent!

Originality: 9
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 8
Production: 9