Christian Muenzner - Beyond The Wall Of Sleep (2014)

Christian Muenzner's shredding style look like the one that really fit my ear. He got metal enough riffs, quite spectacular metal actually. He is technically killer, so when the need to listen a full speed licks, there is also exist. His choice of scale also interesting, not an usual one at least. Then there is awesome composition to combine all of them. The general feel of this 2nd solo album still fit really well on his first one. "Beyond The Wall Of Sleep" has all aspect mentioned above. His style is not as djent , as complicated as Jeff Loomis or Stephen Forte. Yet, also not as "easy listening" as ,ehem, John Petrucci casually doing. Balance is the word.

This is yet another album where I enjoy all the track. So not easy to highlight ones. Two of the openers is featured with another guitarist. "Shadow Over Innsmouth" is straightforward fast speed shred, featured with Danny Tunker, guitarist of Aborted. "Mountain Of Madness" is the more brutal version of the first song. Both running at almost exact time of five minutes. In this second song, Terry Syrek is the featured guitarist, enjoy his almost 'waterfall' like notes on this track. The main title song "Beyond The Wall Of Sleep" changed the course with mystical scales. We got to enjoy the shred partner, keyboardist Jimmy Pitts in action. For drummer Hannes Grossman, his song is "The Witch Of Endor", very strong neo classic supported with precised drumming. "Nightlife" is having a nice groove in there. How about killer riffs in the intro of "Demon's Gate". The last song is for those worship technical typing licks, it is all on "Veil Of The Soul".

Christian Muenzner wonderful guitar mastery reflected well on this album. The quality is straight tight with the first album. The support of his bandmates is also one factor in making this album superior. He should stand on the same boat with other popular shredders, yet I still amaze at how little exposure he got from the internet. Amazing progressive metal guitar instrumental album.

Favorite track: The Witch Of Endor, Demon's Gate, Veil Of The Soul

Metal Harem class: ********** nine stars out of ten

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Christian Muenzner - Beyond The Wall Of Sleep (2014)

1. Shadow Over Innsmouth
2. Mountain Of Madness
3. Beyond The Wall Of Sleep
4. The Pit And The Pendulum
5. Evil Spell (The Book Of Belial)
6. The Witch Of Endor
7. The Talisman
8. Nightlife
9. The Green Traveller
10. Demon's Gate
11. Veil Of The Soul


Jimmy Pitts (The Fractured Dimension, Spastic Ink, Pitts/Minnemann)-keyboards
Linus Klausenitzer (Obscura, Noneuclid)- bass
Hannes Grossmann (Obscura, Blotted Science)-drums
mixed and mastered by Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry)
guitar guest soloists Danny Tunker (Aborted, track 1) and Terry Syrek (track 2)