Every metalhead who has ever picked up a guitar has dreamed of someday shredding like his guitar heroes. Who here among us hasn’t secretly wished that our fingers could fly across the fretboards as fast as Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads? If your skills haven’t quite reached that pinnacle yet, we have the next best thing for you, the first career retrospective from the pioneer of “shred guitar”, Michael Angelo Batio. “Shred Force 1 (The Essential MAB),” available via Rat Pak records, features all the best work from the shredmaster himself as well as appearances by many of the best hard rock and metal musicians in the world.
The album is speed, speed, and more speed as Michael Angelo Batio simply showcases how it should be done. There are some of his best instrumental tracks in “Juggernaut” and “8 Pillars of Steel” as well as Michael’s tribute to Eric Claption, “Slowhand,” and “RRR,” his tribute to the late great Randy Rhoads which features Rudy Sarzo on bass. There are some excellent covers too, with a mindblowing version of Deep Purple’s “Burn” With Mark Tremonti and Queensryche’ s Todd La Torre. Not to be missed is a new version of “Diamond,” his Dimebag Darrell tribute song with Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton. The entire record is blistering and outstanding as Michael Angelo Batio pushes the boundaries of the guitar and constantly innovates the art of shredding.
From the man whose early instructional programs became “the” standard for guitarists everywhere, “Shred Force 1,” is a must add to your collection. Pick up a copy today and get schooled by the best.
