The phenomenal heavy metal album Guitars that Ate My Brain from Magna Carta Records combines twelve of some of the best head banging, mind numbing, metal songs ever, featuring members of DAath, Korn, Guns N’ Roses, and more! 

Paul Waggoner- Boot Dagger Boogle

The first track off the album “Boot Dagger Boogle” is a perfect opener to the jam packed metal album. The Vegetarian and former member of the band “Between the Buried and Me,” Paul Waggoner, has set a new standard for technical metal through his unique and complex technique. Every riff and every note in the song “Boot Dagger Boogle” is perfectly constructed leaving no doubt about Waggoner’s limitless and engaging talent. The only questions on my mind is what exactly is a Boot Dagger Boogle, and where can I get one?

Kris Norris- The Life and Times of Sir Walter

Kris Norris, the former member of “The Darkest Hour” best known for his Scandinavian death metal musical influence, has a rare talent for making music come alive. The song “The Life and Times of Sir Walter” is a creative blend of haunting lyrics and unique rifts.

Dave Martone- Hybrid Angels

Dave Martone has been called one of Canada’s finest guitar players and was featured as one of the top four underground shredders in North America in the January issue of Guitar One Magazine, which was by no means an over-exaggeration. Dave Martone is the quintessential guitar player; the way in which he is able to manipulate his guitar to create amazing music is beyond my comprehension. “Hybrid Angels” is a stellar song that demonstrates Dave’s capacity as an artist.

Ron Thal- Disengaged

Ron Thal also known as Bumblefoot is a great musician who continues to put all his passion and effort into his music. When comparing Ron’s autobiography to his music you can’t help but notice a lot of similarities between the two. Every song that Ron composes has a little bit of him in it whether it’s his anger, pain, or his twisted sense of humor. Ron’s song “Disengaged” is a phenomenal blend of symphonic sound and personality, and is anything but disengaging.

Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler- The Unwavering Collapse

Eyal Levi (son of famous classical music conductor Yoel Levi) and Emil Werstler of the band DaAth are truly ingenious musicians. On their track entitled “The Unwavering Collapse” Eyal and Emil transform simple scales and octaves into pure metal madness. Singing, soaring, screeching, roaring the unwavering harmony of notes fill my heart with joy- which I’m sure isn’t a common reaction, most of the metal obsessed population would probably prefer to hear me say “The Unwavering Collapse filled me with the intense need for anti-authoritarian action or some apocalyptical conclusion,” but clearly that’s not the case. The combination of free-flowing technique and melodic range has only led me to conclude that Eyal and Emil are two extremely talented artists well deserving of proclamations of delight and esteem.

Shane Gibson- Artichoke Samurai 

Shane Gibson, a graduate from Berklee College of Music and guitarist for Korn, shines solo on the track “Artichoke Samurai.” The track put forth some of Shane’s best characteristics such as his flawless skill and creativity, which some of his most devoted fan’s have become accustomed to expect.

Devin Townsend- Nerd Alert

The song “Nerd Alert” is my favorite track off the album offering some variety and flare to the monotony of the metal album. Devin Townsend affinity for theatrics makes listening to his music an exciting experience. The track “Nerd Alert” offers an alternate reality complete with riffs, melody, vocals, and even a bit of dialogue.

Chris Poland-L.D.E

Chris Poland, who is probably best known as the former guitarist of Megadeth, is a rock solid musician with an infinite amount of skill. The song “L.D.E” is a power house; dark and dreary yet exciting and interesting. Chris’s Jazz influence is potent on the track giving the song an added edge and unique feel.

Ola Frenning and Christofer Malmstrom- Hydra

Ola Frenning former member of the band Swedish Metal Kings and Christofer Malmstrom of the band Darkane worked together on the track “hydra” to create a song that is as powerful as the mythological beast the song was named after. “Hydra” is a ferocious collision of sound, riffs, and energy that cannot be matched.

Mike Orlando-Stomped

Mike Orlando, guitarist of Sonic Stomp, is a metal engineer the song “Stomped” though subtle at times is truly mind-blowing. Mike Orlando guitar playing skills are exceptional, he fingers the frets at a speed that seems impossibly fast and still manages to maintain a clean sound.

James Murphy-Maiden Voyage

James Murphy, former member of both Death and Testament, is a talented guitarist with a thirst for perfection. The song “Maiden Voyage” is a melodic mind teaser, simple and quiet, yet complex and piercing.

Hugues Lefebvre and Yann Mouhad-Schrodinger’s Cat Paradox

Hugues Lefebvre and Yann Mouhad of the French band Anthropia have created a chaotic symphony of sound in the song “Schrödinger’s Cat Paradox,” the song contains a mixture of vocals, rifts, and rhythms which renders an air of ordered disarray which adds to the beauty and uniqueness of the song.

Lauren Stair-MuzikReviews.com Staff

March 5, 2009

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