Artist: JD Bradshaw CD Title: "The Essence of Existence" Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 6/21/2002

     If your into upbeat, melody driven instrumental guitar music with a twist of Heavy Metal your going to love "The Essence of Existence."  This is JD Bradshaw's second release and man is this one a hot number.  It was a good progression from his first release "Caught in the Act."  JD is one smoking guitar player that's for sure, blending speed, bends, harmonies, and soul.  That statement alone doesn't even seem to describe his abilities at all!  Did I mention killer song writing?  JD writes his songs in normal rock format, giving your verses, choruses, and main lead sections.  It's such a treat to listen to, because you can easily follow a song along and not get lost on the way.  Another highlight is the great sound production, and NO DRUM MACHINES!

     Track one "Firecracker" starts of the CD with a huge 4th of July bang, with a hot upbeat guitar riff that will knock your socks off.  The main melody line rocks, it's one of those you'll be humming in the shower that's for sure!  Listen closely for JD's fills and his use of pentatonic based bends.    Bradshaw has a great bending technique that shouldn't be taken lightly that's for sure, so keep those ears peeled.  There are so many cool parts to list, so just check out the track for yourself because I don't have the room to list them all.

     "Over the Top," track two opens with a dark sinister guitar riff drenched with some great processed effects.  Then he breaks into the main melody line that is very bendy and effect laden.  Check this odder sounding lick at 00:34 - 00:46, very cool one indeed.  Sounds like some tapping to me, but with a little something extra added.    For you connoisseurs of soul check out 1:23 - 1:39, I loved that section.  Another high light is Bradshaw's use off effects, his tone almost sound liquid or water like. Overall this a a great song, with a cool melody line and theme, it's one you can listen to over and over.  You will enjoy his blending of the WAH WAH pedal in this song, it really adds a nice layer to his lead guitar tone.

     Song three " Pathouli" opens with a nylon string guitar intro with a Latin feel.  Then he goes into a very chordy guitar rhythm that is very atmospheric sounding.  Around, 00:53 JD steps up a notch bringing back in the Nylon guitar.  This song is a real treat!  I'm a huge fan of nylon string guitar, because it's tone is far superior to that of an steel stringed acoustic.  Bradshaw knows his way around the board, and belts out some Latin / Classical influenced leads.  So go grab your Nylon string guitar and sit in with JD on this one, it's a great song to learn acoustic soloing from!

     Finally, track four "Yamaya" brings the CD to and end.  Don't ask me what Yamaya stands for, so email JD and ask him yourself!  This song really brings it home with lots of high energy.  The main melody line just plain rocks, it's very tasty and ear grabbing.  Did I mention the main guitar riff?  All I got to say is grab your leather jackets, and spiked bracelets and get those fists in the air, cuz Heavy Metal is taking over your CD players for the next few minutes!  This is one song I can imagine being played at a huge stadium packed with ten thousand people with all the people going wild all over the place.  JD knows how to tear down a brick wall, no make that a The Great Wall of China with a great guitar riff.  In this song the drums and guitar really lock in for a killer groove.  Then at 1:54 he fades out with some cool Harmonic minor and then proceeded to shock the hell out of me!  He slows down the song, and brings in the clean guitar and goes off on a chordy adventure.  It really broke up the song and showed how he can intertwine guitar parts together.  It also reinsured to me that JD is a great song writer.  He can really put together a great song that will grab you and keep you sucked in.  Also check out his use of the Harmonic Minor scale thought out the song.  Some other wide spread techniques used were single string tremolo picking (with melody in mind), speed runs, pentatonic licks, and he even gives us a some wild trem bar stuff. 

     Looking back "The Essence of Existence" is a ROCKER!!!  It's a must have for any fan of high energy, melody driven, hook orientated guitar masterpieces.  JD's songs are very upbeat with an almost pop rock feel to them.  I sense a lot of Major key use from him.  He's no shred drone that's for sure!  He keeps your interest every moment and never loses your interest.  In another words, HE NOT BORING!  I love this guy's playing.  It's a real treat when I get to review CD's that are so upbeat and full of life.

     Bradshaw has the talent to be one of the next greats like Satch or Vai.  You know what, THIS CD KICKS THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF ANYTHING JOE SATRIANI AND STEVE VAI HAVE DONE COMBINED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.  None of that exploration b.s.  Just damn good guitar driving songs.  So Joe and Steve, get a grip and get back into the game, because there is a new generation of shredders that are going to leave you unemployed!

     JD, hats off to you for one of the best CD's so far this year and I know this release is going to be hard to beat, hands down.  I couldn't find a bad thing to say accept that there's only 4 songs, and I wish there were more because I'm dying to get my hands one more of his work.  Luckily I have his First CD "Caught in the Act" to keep me satisfied until the next one comes out.  I give this CD a 12 our of 10 for great song writing, melody and kick ass guitar playing.  Rock on brother!