As a fan of instrumental music, it’s always hit or miss no matter what genre it is. With the release of his latest EP “In the Shadows of Madness”, 19 year old guitar prodigy Jake Dreyer has knocked it out of the park. Clocking in just a bit over 15 minutes and with 3 songs, Jake Dreyer gives the listener a nice sample plate of his versatile and even schizophrenic writing and performing style. One of the most appealing aspects of this approach is the “short and sweet” concept. Instead of delivering an album of 12 or 13 songs, he chose to release an EP of 3 songs which showcases his talents yet leaves you wanting more. Trust me, it’s better to leave them wanting more than to give them more than they can handle.
“Beyond the Tranquil Descent” is very reminiscent of classic metal guitar virtuosity that while showcasing his ability to shred, it also has a beautiful complexity to it mixing melodic electric guitars and beautifully layered acoustic guitars. “Harmony of the Spheres” brings us into the world of a prog metal sounding very much like it could be a Symphony X song. Lots of double bass drums, deep, groove laden rhythms and lead playing that possesses all the chaotic beauty that I love so much about progressive metal. The song “Drawing of the Three” is where Dreyer really shows off his skills as not only an amazing guitarist but an amazing composer. The song starts out like a face melting progressive metal opus only to wind down into clean toned new age sounding track complete with strings and some of the most beautiful flamenco guitar playing I’ve heard only to slam right back into metal mode. In my opinion, this is Jake’s signature song as it shows maturity, versatility and focus.
“In The Shadows of Madness” is not the work of your average guitar wanker. This is the work of a passionate, focused and determined musician. This album has a far more mature sound than you would expect to hear from a guitar player who has yet to turn 20. Jake Dreyer has all the potential and promise to be one of the next guitar gods of a new generation. Inspired by the greats before him such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert and Marty Friedman, Jake just may be one of the new generation to keep the magic, passion and excitement of instrument metal guitar music alive for the years to come.
For more on Jake Dreyer, head over to http://www.jakedreyer.com
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