Featured Artist: Apostolis Anthimos

CD Title: Back To The North

Year: 2006

Record Label: Metal Mind Productions

Style: Fusion

Musicians: Marcin Pospieszalski (double bass, bass guitar, keyboard), Paul Wertico (drums), Apostolis Anthimos (guitar, keyboard, piano)

Review:

A heavy metal jazz fusion hybrid that features a solid electric guitar player laying down some interesting tunes. Anthimos plays guitar, electronic keyboard and piano on this album. He is joined by Marcin Pospieszalski on double bass, electric bass and keyboard as well as drummer Paul Wertico. They have gotten together to produce seven tracks that blend rock, blues, funk and jazz in an enlightening manner.

The first song of the CD “Bar Wah Wah” starts off energetically, a fast tempo in a funky rhythm. The first bridge shifts the song into a different tempo and introduces a wah-wah effect that adds a great deal of tonal color to the guitar playing.

The song “Bonus Eyes” features Anthimos with his distinctive wailing sound, long sustained notes and smooth as silk shifts to melodic runs.

The song Pinocchio’s Dreams reminds me of a Jeff Beck style song from the classic Blow By Blow days. The guitar tone that Anthimos creates is superb. There are no liner notes. but a photo shows him playing a Strat and this certainly sounds like that paired up with a couple of Marshall stacks that helped to create that great sound.

The band plays a waltz in blues time and spirit on “Waltz For Barbaras.” Bassist Pospieszalski performs a nice solo with ambiance from Anthimos on guitar, who is playing chords through a sampler. Drummer Wertico adds plenty to the sound of all of the songs. He has a nice style of playing his ride cymbal in a very rhythmic fashion that lends itself to creating a jazz feel. When the time comes to break out, he does so with authority.

Tracks: Bar Wah Wah, Bonnie's Eyes, Pinocchio's Dreams, Waltz for Barbaras, Colours Impressions, New Century, Back To The North

Record Label Website: http://metalopolis.pl

Reviewed by: Paul J. Youngman

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