Master axeman Monte Pittman is best known for his work with Madonna as he has been recording and touring with the pop megastar for over 15 years. But Pittman is nothing if not versatile and has just released his fourth full length solo album and second on the Metal Blade label, “Inverted Grasp of Balance.”
The new record is an absolute beast of full fledged metal madness. Produced by Jay Ruston, the album has a nice cohesive feel to it with some real snap. Pittman is on fire from the first track to the last. Tackling everything from the old school thrash of “Panic Attack” to the blistering assault of “Double Edged Sword,” Monte simply puts on a master class showing of his guitar skills with both bravado and tenacity. In addition to the guitar and some bass work, Pittman handles vocal duties himself. He does call on the help of some rock heavyweights to help out with the legendary Billy Sheehan handling some of the bass tracks and drummer Richard Christy providing a solid force behind the kit. The album is also a great showcase for Pittman’s songwriting abilities with the huge melodies of “Be Very Afraid” and the album closer “New Blood Keeps Us Alive.”
If you’re looking for some “new blood” to add to your own music library, check out the metal side of Monte Pittman and pick up a copy of “Inverted Grasp of Balance” today.
