Artist: Project Alcazar CD Title: "Reasons for a Decade" Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 12/14/01

   Another great Lion Music recording artist!  Project:  Alcazar brings a new sound waves into the neo-classical and melodic shred world!  With monstrous riffs, scary leads, weeping melodies, and bone crushing drum playing.  Chris Steberl brings a new level to the neo-classical guitar realm.  He's no Y.R.O (Yngwie Rip Off) that's for sure!  His leads are tight and melodic with heavy classical feeling.  After hearing this masterpiece, you'll gain a new flare for neo-classical guitar playing.  I loved it even more than I did before (and I really love neo-classical music).  Steberl's playing is high level and his song composing is way up there as well.  Nothing but skill, technique and good sense of flow.  I would recommend buying this CD to every guitar player's collection of CDs.  Chris reminds me of Vinnie Moore mixed with Tony MacAlpine and a bit of Yngwie tossed in.  Take head, his music sounds nothing like theirs at all!  I just use those names, because that's who I would put him in a genre with, if I had too.

    Track one "Nightmare on Bald Mountain" will scare the hell out of you after hearing the opening diminished arpeggios and a monstrous guitar riff.  Chris has a very in your face guitar style, his rhythm riffs will hammer you against a wall and his leads will shred you to pieces (no pun intended).  This song is action packed with arpeggios, hook lines and some pretty impressive fret board antics.  I also love Steberl's use of keyboards to accent the song, they work very well.  There are too many runs and licks to mention, but here are some of my favorite:  2:04-2:44.  This section is packed with odd arpeggios, some great classical climbing lines and very melodic bends; then 3:55-4:19 is another highlight, it's an amazing section that builds upon the last lead, and speeds the next line up.  Also, check out the ending arpeggios.  Can we say clean?

     Track two "TranceMission" knocks you off your feet right away with a killer intro guitar riff, and a main lead melody that sings.  It's such a soulful and happy lead it will really brighten your day after hearing it.  Lets just say this song should have appeared on Vinnie Moore's "Meltdown" album.  That's what this song reminds me of, it's very upbeat, and the rhythm section moves fast, keeping the pace up for Chris to go nuts over, just like Vinnie Moore did on "Meltdown."  Check out this excellent lick at 2:22-2:38, I will be learning this one next time I pick up my axe.  Then right after that Steberl hits you with an amazing keyboard solo.  I'd have to say hands down the main melody line is my favorite attribute to the song. It's very "happy" sounding and you can hum along with it (bonus points!).  Chris 4:11-4:44 (the ending section) has a great progressive guitar lead that just sings.  It again is very upbeat and is full of feel.  "TranceMission" is my favorite track of the CD, and I hope to hear it on the radio soon.

     "Neptune Island" track three is another heart wrencher that will numb your senses with smooth melodic leads and great hook lines.  Pay close attention the bass lines in this song.  They really stand out, which is important on instrumental releases, it helps keep the song going and keeps a solid groove moving as well.  I also like how John Homan's drum playing is so tight and sound in this track.  The drums and bass lock very well together throughout the song, and create a massive foundation.  Once again, Chris Steberl strikes you down with a superb main melody line that has lots of flavor and style.  Along with that I'd like to point out Chris's extremely clean playing.  To me he seems a very well practiced musician, showing master of guitar, bass, and keyboards.  I was really impressed with the musicianship on this track and the whole CD.  He puts a lot of hard work into creating songs that will keep the listeners attention at all times, and that alone is the key to song great writing.  Ok, I know your dieing to get some licks out of me on this one so here they are:  00:54-1:04, it's a very simple lick that has lots of life and a great hum along line.  It got stuck in my head for a few hours, that's for sure.  2:03-2:22 mixes up some killer shred playing with melodic bends and note accents.  Then lastly I love 2:56-3:01 that has one smoking triplet movement that is tremolo picked.  Very easy skill to perform, but his note selection was superb!

     Track four "Vivaldi's Summer Concerto" (3rd. mov.) brings back the classical right back to the forefront.  And if you heard the original Vivaldi's Summer Concerto (3rd. mov.), you'd be overly impressed with Chris Steberl's rendition.  It packs a lot of heat that's for sure!  Steberl's classical guitar playing is very inspirational, he really brings a new light to a "over done" genre.  Every time I hear a new neo-classical artist I can't help myself from asking what new has this artist contributed to the field.  For many, it's just the same re-hashed licks and movements over and over, but "Reasons for a Decade" adds some much needed style and feel to the neo-classical realm of guitar playing. Thanks Chris!

     "Sahara Skies" track five out of all the songs on the CD has one of the best backing grooves. It's got a very progressive feel to it.  I'd even venture say 00:45-1:01 has got to be on of the coolest uses of Harmonic minor I've heard in a while.  I also like that passages use of keyboards and bass to create a middle eastern vibe.  Pay close attention to all the clean lead lines in this song as well.  There are to many to list but, after hearing them, you'll agree that Chris's playing is super clean and very well polished.  Lastly, I enjoyed his use of acoustic guitar at the end of the track.  It brought great resolution to the song.

     Track six "Mozart's 25 Symphony in Gm (Amadeus)" rocks!  I've heard Yngwie uses lots of Mozart's licks over the years, but Chris really brought this old classical masterpiece to a new level.  The song is very bright sounding and exciting, just as I'm sure Mozart intended it to be.  Steberl jam packs it with tasteful arpeggios and tons of spice.  2:52-2:58 is a smoking double guitar harmony that you'll enjoy over and over.  Chris's guitar tone on album is simply ear pleasing.  It's very clean and warm.  Seems like he spent a lot of time dialing in guitar tones.  Another attribute to the song is John Homan's drum playing.  It has to be really hard trying to write drums beats to the old masterpieces, and John wows you with double bass, and some great skin beating.  It's safe to say they went beyond the call of duty and produced a wonderful rendition of the 25th.

      "Silk n Honey" track seven really brings the CD on home.  With beautiful singing guitar lines that command your ear's full attention.  Aside from the guitar work, I'd have to say the Bass playing stands out so nicely, it's the heart of the song.  The bass carries the song's upbeat feeling and will make you bop in your chair. It also forms a strong bond with John Homan's drum work.  Together they really will make you dance around with your girlfriend all afternoon.  "Silk n Honey" is a very upbeat and happy track.  I can just imagine this song being played at weddings and high school proms everywhere.  It has that happy and warm summer feeling to it as well.  Chris's guitar playing really shines here.  Not a dark sounding note can be found that's for sure.  1:59-2:11 marks a killer hammer on pull off idea that was executed so well, it was worth mentioning.  2:47-3:10 is another great example of Chris's sing along guitar lines, and this one is very infectious!  Again, this song also has a knockout main melody line that will keep you humming for days on end.  Eric Johnson, eat your heart out!

     Looking back, "Reasons for a Decade" was nothing short of being a pure pleasure to listen to and review.  I love when I get CDs that are full of life and soul.  The musicianship from Chris and John is very high and it shows throughout the entire album.  Chris has an amazing skill for bringing a new edge to the neo-classical and melodic guitar world.  In a genre full of Yngwie clones, it's nice to hear that someone has something totally different to offer.  Chris Steberl's guitar mastery is a rare bird these days, he blends classical elements and new innovations and takes an adventurous journey with them.  I also love Steberl's sence of melody in "TransMission" and "Silk n Honey."  Most instrumental guitarists could learn a thing or two from his playing that's for sure.  I've heard many good players over the years, but after hearing this one, I think it's safe to say that this album is right up there with Vinnie Moore's "Minds Eye" and Tony MacAlpine's "Maximum Security."  Lion Music really found an exciting new player that has a lot to offer the guitar world.  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy Project:  Alcazar's "Reasons for a Decade" as much as I did!