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JOE STUMP - Symphonic Onslaught - 6.2/106.2/10
Summary
Lion Music
Release date: March 11, 2019
User Review
( votes)Neoclassical shredder Joe Stump is back with another helping of guitar pyrotechnics on Symphonic Onslaught. This full-length instrumental release is one of his stronger albums, although he is still knee deep in “sounds like Yngwie” territory. Despite constantly being compared to the aforementioned Swedish guitar icon, at this point in their careers, Stump’s material is considerably stronger (and less derivative) than Malmsteen’s.
Symphonic Onslaught contains some standard, by-the-numbers, Rainbow-meets-Power Metal tunes, such as “Demonic Trance” and “Hit The Deck” but also has more original sounding and inspired tunes like “On With The Action”, and “Stratocastle”. It’s nice to hear Stump exploring a wider variety of stylistic options. At times, it can be difficult to tell one Joe Stump release from the next, but Symphonic Onslaught might mark a welcome change of pace in Stump’s solo career.
Fans of Neoclassic Shred and songs to play while you’re burning up the moonlit highway in your XKR will enjoy Symphonic Onslaught.
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I think this is one of Joe’s best releases. It seems to have more variety, inspiration and melody in some areas. “Facemelting Devastation” might be my favourite song of the year at this point in time.