| Musical Style: Instrumental Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2022 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 5 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 15:03 |
Guitar Graffiti, the fall of 2022 Roxx Records debut solo EP from guitarist Kevin Pike, combines an eighties instrumental guitar shred experience with accessible songwriting. Whereas better known for his work with vocalist Christine Steel in Clearwater, Florida based melodic metal act Arsenal, Pike got his start as a graduate of G.I.T. (Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California) prior to acting as a private student of guitarist Bruce Bouillet (Racer X). An instrumental feature in Guitar Magazine later culminated with him getting the gig with Arsenal.
Guitar Graffiti came about from his mentorship with guitarist Steve Lynch (Autograph), whose encouragement prompted Pike to compose the EP’s material. He subsequently rounded out the Guitar Graffiti lineup with the recruitment of bassist Timothy Gaines (Of Gods & Monsters, ex-Stryper). Pike provides further detail (as noted in the Roxx Records press material): ‘Timothy felt that the material was very strong melodically and technically, and that was the push that I needed to complete Guitar Graffiti. Then, once I heard Timothy’s (bass) tracks, I knew we had something really special we needed to share with the world.’
For those wondering, Pike was not part of Arsenal when it recorded its 1990 Regency Records debut Armored Choir. Rather, he joined the group at the time of its five-song Peace Child demo, whose material was to form the basis of a follow up to Armored Choir. In my review of Armored Choir, I mention Peace Child and describe it as ‘blues based hard rock with classic rock sensibilities. Heavier at times and more acoustic in comparison to Armored Choir, the demo brings to mind Kinetic Faith era Bride but replace Dale Thompson with a searing female lead vocalist.’ Optimal scenario is to re-issue Armored Choir with the Peace Child material as bonus tracks.
Opener “Note Shaker (8 Finger Tapping)” does a good job exhibiting Pike’s abilities as a minute long neo-classically influenced open-air guitar solo certain to turn the head of Rex Carroll (Whitecross).
Albums title track leads the way in terms of the eighties shred mentality, abounding in melody to catchy riffs and harmonies but also breathing of affection when factoring the emotion resonating from the inspired vestiges. All the while artist is literally all over the fret board with his technical acumen.
With clashing symbols to start, “Ode To The King” slows tempo with an at times jazzy and others fusion based focus to highlight a bluesy side to Pike’s playing, which stands alongside Gaines’ bass to emanate of life in gently floating beneath the surface. Again, one cannot deny the full on emotion nor high-level performance from all parties involved, noting as well the adept timekeeping of Arnaud Krakowka.
Two and half-minute open-air Spanish guitar solo “Gracias Ken (Nylon String)” allows Pike to exhibit the versatility (and overall skill) to his abilities.
Back to eighties guitar shed with “Opus”, a joining of neo-classical sensibilities and keyed up drumming that touches upon a speed basis but without forsaking the melodic foundation inherent to the Guitar Graffiti material. Song otherwise finds artist displaying his accelerated fusion based soloing, while allowing Gaines’s bass to extend to a forward place in the mix over the final minute.
In reviews of instrumental rock albums from other artists, I used the ‘song orientated instrumental metal and hard rock designator’ and such is the case with Guitar Graffiti. Specifically, Pike makes high-end musicianship a priority but does not forsake memorable songwriting in the process. Yes, artist shred with the best of them, albeit the EP is not all ‘wankery” from how he thoughtfully stays true to the song. That said, with three full-length songs and a pair in the one to two minute range, Guitar Graffiti is on the short end of the scale far as EP’s are concerned. Quality is such I hope any follow up work is a full-length effort instead, or at the very least includes a couple more songs. Overall, if into eighties guitar shred or instrumental rock in general then I can see Guitar Graffiti being of interest.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Note Shaker (8 Finger Tapping)” (1:04), “Guitar Graffiti” (3:19), “Ode To The King” (4:38), “Gracias Ken (Nylon String)” (2:39), “Opus” (3:24)
Musicians
Kevin Pike - Guitars
Timothy Gaines - Bass
Arnaud Krakowka - Drums
