Artist: Francesco Fareri CD Title: "Suspension" Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 6/04/02

     Ok shred heads, its been a little while since we've gotten a cd that is over the top and insane when it comes to the technique department.  Francesco Fareri's playing abilities are almost immeasurable.  I don't think I've ever heard arpeggios played like he does.  Fareri's chops are just as fast as his native car company Ferrari.  I was blown away by his clean and crisp playing.  Its not everyday you get to hear an artist with chops that will give your grandmother an instant heart attach.  Francesco's plays with machine like accuracy and I will not be lead to think anything else.  He's been selling lots of CDs at www.guitar9.com and after hearing this album I could see why.

   Track one "Suspension" is a neo-classical arpeggio fest from hell.  If you think you've heard arpeggios, think again.  Fareri by far has some of the most impressive arpeggio skills I've ever heard!  The even more wilder thing is that he creates main melody lines with them.  Now ponder on that one for a while.  Done yet?  Well this track, opens with a great keyboard line that builds the tension nicely for the backing rhythm guitar track.  Then in comes Fareri's blazing arpeggios, they are quite frightening.  This song is just a power house of guitar playing.  Francesco busts out some fast and heavy riffing and goes insane throughout the song with his virtuoso like guitar playing.  I really like how he takes arpeggio passages and creates main melody structures with them.  To hear a amazing example of this check out 01:36-01:48 of the song.  This passage is restated many times throughout the song.  Its a very memorable one that's for sure.  Being the second longest song clocking in at a scary 09:04, I was amazed how this song didn't seem that long.  Almost ten minutes is something really amazing to pull off without becoming repetitive after a while.  I would also like to point out Fareri's wonderful keyboard playing.  His lines are a definite highlight of each song.  They break up the shred fests and give each song an atmospheric like sound.  For another heart attach check out the passage from 07:23 - 08:07.  My heart just about ceased, I've fallen and I cant get up.

     "Pointbreak" song two opens with a divine keyboard intro that had to be one of my favorite ones from the disc.  In at an early 00:33 begins Fareri's fretboard madness.  I can't even begin to describe this guys speed and articulation.  This tune has a very progressive feel to it as well.  There are many movements throughout the song that will take you to far and distant musical places.  Always be ready to be knocked out of this world by his guitar playing.  Francesco pulls out all the stops in this one with speed runs that will literally tear you shreds (no pun intended).  Check out the massive keyboard break at 04:26, not only does he have smokin' guitar chops, but his keyboard playing is just as fast.  I love how he trades off sections between the keyboards and guitar.  It really breaks up the song nicely and gives you a different flavor.

     Song three "Introspective" hits you hard with a balls to the wall speed picking rhythm guitar playing.  His rhythm playing is super clean and ballsy.  Fareri's guitar tone is another thing worth mentioning as well.  Its extremely clean, every note rings out perfectly.  He blends the perfect amount of overdrive to achieve one hell of a sound.  This song really captures the essence of his playing.  Some real highlights where this huge keyboard section at 04:12 that is followed by a very scary arpeggio section.  Fareri really caught me off guard with his choice of soloing directly after the keyboard movement, I expected something slow and melodic, but instead Francesco knocked me through the wall with a blistering arpeggio segment.  After investigation, I think its safe to say Francesco has some of the best arpeggio skills I've ever heard.

     "Cyborg" shred fest four, is another one that will literally leave your wits numb.  The intro keyboard line sounds like something from an evil circus.  Watch out, those killer clowns are coming for you, wielding sharply pointed guitars.  AHHH!!!  Run away while you still can!  Anyways, this number really demonstrates the momentum and consistency that he plays with and its utterly out of this world.  The song title was well selected because Fareri's playing is machine like.  No room for error.  His playing is sharp and to the point.  Francesco doesn't leave you hanging wanting more.  After hearing this song you'll pass out from short circuit.  I'm surprised the recording equipment didn't explode while he was recording it to say the least.  This trail has too many highlights to point out, so keep your ears peeled and metronomes ready.  For some reason I felt like Fareri's guitar playing was chasing me throughout the song.  I started having shred mares the same night thanks to Fareri.

     Song five "Secrets" takes a different turn from the rest of the CD.  This tune has a very deep classical feel to it.  Along with that, the track has all clean guitar tones.   It was a very melodic song and had great building movements like classical songs do.  Also, pay close attention to his tapping lines.  I was simply blown away.

  Last but not least song six "Paradox" kicked the living crap out of me.  Folks, this song should be illegal in every country and state.  Where's the police when you need them.  I think a speeding ticket is in order.  He was clocked doing 1,000 BPMs in a 200 BPM zone.  Fareri you better look out, the flashing lights are right behind you (if they can catch you).  Besides that, this song has some of the best song composition on the album.  I really enjoyed his keyboard playing during this one and Fareri gave you an extended keyboard lead section to top it off.  This review barely begins to describe the technique and skill this shred monster has.  I highly recommend putting this song on loop and observing all that he brings to the table.  6:07 - 6:47 marks my absolute favorite sections of the song.  Francesco sent my system into shock.  This arpeggio movement was one of the best composed and most melodious passages I have ever heard, hands down.  I must have rewound it 6 times to take it all in.

    Well shred nuts, there's not much more that I can say about Francesco Fareri accept for his playing is virtuoso like.  I've never heard arpeggios played with such articulation and accuracy.  He is a overly well practiced musician, and seems to have spent hours and hours refining his skills and technique.  Fareri plays at a technique level that most of us dream to be at.  After finishing this review I immediately grabbed my trust flying v and started drilling my arpeggios until my hands couldn't take it anymore.  He's truly a gifted player and his skills exceeded most that I've heard.  I would love to hear a follow up release from him as soon as possible.  Along with that, I think it would be interesting to get a ballad or slower song from him.  Seeing proved his speed and technique, I'd like to hear how he'd use them in a slower paced situation. 

     I'm telling you readers to immediately purchase this CD online, I was blown away by the high caliber guitar playing.  His music is on top of its game.  I have to be honest for a moment though.  I'm usually not a fan of 8 minute plus songs, but Fareri writes in such a way that you won't even realize 8 minutes have passed.  So try to figure that one out.  Do your technique a favor and pick up this amazing cd as soon as humanly possible!  Fareri is a player that strides to break sonic barriers with his guitar playing.  He's the type of guy that writes music to inspire other musicians to be on top of their game.  This album will go down in shred guitar history without a doubt.