Guitar fans stand up and take note! The new album from John 5 and the Creatures, “Season of the Witch,” is out and is one that you don’t want to miss. You may already be familiar with some of the tracks as John took a slightly different approach for this record releasing several tunes as videos throughout 2016 garnering over a million views.
“Season of the Witch” is a masterpiece of modern guitar and a showcase for the versatility of John 5’s talents. He touches on everything from metal to country and does it all with an artistry and finesse that is unmatched. With a blistering pace, he tackles “Black Grass Plague,” a bluegrass metal assault that is mindblowing at first listen. There are your more standard guitar instrumentals as well like the hard rocking “Now Fear This” and the industrial rock of the title track. But it’s the unexpected that we have come to love from John 5 and so we have the slower pace and country twang of “Behind the Nut Love” before a horror film intro to the absolutely ferocious metal madness of “Making Monsters.” Do not miss the jazz fusion jam on “Here’s to the Crazy Ones.” Not just anyone can keep up with John 5, so he brings his backing band The Creatures along for the ride with the skillful sticks of drummer Rodger Carter and the staccato bass lines of Ian Ross.
A lot of rock guitarists can light it up with a sick solo or punchy riff but it takes some true magic to let their guitar take over and really tell a story. That’s what makes John 5 so special. He has a majesty and wizardry that make him a true shaman of the 6 string. “Season of the Witch” is one for the ages.
