Artist: David Shankle Group CD Title: Ashes To Ashes Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 12/20/2005

Ferocious guitar work, pounding melodies and top notch production just scratch the surface for the David Shankle Group's debut release "Ashes To Ashes." The front man for DSG is veteran metal guitarist David Shankle, who returns to the metal world after his run Manowar in the early 1990's. Shankle hasn't lost his edge, and spent the off time honing his speed and developing his technique. "Ashes To Ashes" is a power house of metal and easily will interest fans of the genre.

"Ashes To Ashes" the title track opens with a fury of metal guitar riffing and melodic speedy keyboards. The vocals are very catchy and blend perfectly with the music. Shankle's main solo opens with a burning bend that leads into extreme shredding, with trade off keyboard solos. Get ready to pump your fists in the air along with screaming guitars, pounding bass lines and devastating double bass drum work from "The Widow's Peak." The vocal lines are extremely infectious and you're guaranteed to sing along. David's main lead is a show stopper, for it's over the top speed and melodic harmonies. Yes, I said harmonies. David never thinks twice about harmonizing a great lead melody to give it a "larger than life" sound. "Calling All Heroes" is hands down the metal ballad/anthem of the record. So be prepared to bust out the lighters and sing along with this unique and soulful masterpiece. "Calling All Heroes" really impressed me musically as David displays a different side of his song writing. It has all the elements to add up to a perfect metal classic; catchy lyrics and great riffs. "Madness" is a ballsy power metal tune with a razor sharp edge. The speedy guitar work go hand and hand with the driving drum lines throughout the track. David opens his main lead break with a excellent arpeggio movement that is soon followed by some kick ass keyboard shredding. Shortly after guitars and keyboards blast off together and assault all those with speed frenzied harmonies and trade offs breaks. Another favorite is the drop tuned monster "Masquerade." Shankle and Brian Gordon's bass playing lock together to form a metal bulldozer ready to destroy anything in it's path. The lyrics are also well written and will keep the listener's attention. "Voice of Authority" brings the cd to close with but not with out pushing the envelope one last time. I spoke with David Shankle directly in order to correctly dissect his technique during in this instrumental and he had the following to say; "The first section includes hand over hand tapping, then moving into phase two, over the neck string skipping, and part three, arpeggios movements."

On to the hidden/bonus tracks....Hidden after "Voice of Authority" are the instrumental tracks "Etude" and "Daydreams" and "Jezebel." "Etude" is a neoclassical shred fest served from hell on a burning platter with smokin' arpeggios, harmonies, and plenty of fretboard insanity. "Daydreams" embodies Dave's slower alter ego in song writing. This instrumental is packed with soulful melodies that draw the listener closer as each note passes by. Shankle does shred, but he mainly focuses on soul more than speed. "Jezebel" is another rocker with ground shattering riffing. Brian Gordon's bass work drives the rhythm section along with the drums as David chugs over. Be ready to head bang to a new metal classic. Shankle pulls out all the stops with his last major lead for the album as he mixes some bluesy bends with speedy licks and his signature arpeggios in to slay the listener into oblivion. What to cut heads Dave!

"Ashes To Ashes" is a fantastic first release from DSG and hopefully won't be their last. The songs aren't your typical power metal tunes, as the band's playing leans more toward the technical side. DSG's members mesh together perfectly creating a original heavy metal sound. David Shankle's leads throughout the disc just plain rip as he achieves death defying speeds. His speed technique is amazing as he burns up fretboards with ease. Shankle doesn't stop there though. He's also an accomplished "over the neck shredder" (fretting notes over the top of the fretboard with the left hand). David never seizes to amaze when given the chance to exhibit his mad skills. With chops like these it shouldn't take very long to get some attention from the world of shred. So keep an eye out for the another DSG release in the near future.

Visit David Shankle Group.com for official DSG music videos, David Shankle's "over the neck playing," merchandise and more.