Extreme metal guitar guru James Murphy is walking the solo path once again on his 1999 release, Feeding The Machine.Nomadic by nature, and fond of working with a variety of musicians in the field, Murphy has crafted an album that allows him to display his impressive chops while at the same time leaving plenty of room for his guests to flex their own muscle.Murphy began his career in the early 90s playing for bands in the death and thrash metal genres such as Death, Obituary, Disincarnate and Testament.A gifted lead guitarist, Murphy had a striking ability to express himself in creative and distinct ways over even the most brutal of soundscapes.Sought out repeatedly by bands such as Cancer, Malevolent Creation, and Solstice to contribute lead parts to their projects, Murphy kept himself quite busy while never firmly establishing his roots with any one act.

It wasn't really surprising when Murphy released his first solo album, Convergence, in 1996.An aggressive blend of instrumentals and pieces with guest vocalists, it provided a forum for him to showcase his unique talents and cut his teeth at songwriting.After taking some time to work on other projects (Artension, Konkhra) from 1997- 98, Mr. Murphy is once again at front and center stage on Feeding The Machine.More of a progressive/power metal record than Convergence, Feeding The Machine is a diverse collection of songs that feels as much like a journey as it does a record.Perhaps this is because Murphy once again surrounds himself with a disparate grouping of some of the best talent the industry has to offer.Joining him again is accomplished session drummer Deen Castronovo (Geezer, Journey, etc.) and bassist Steve DiGiorgio of recent Sadus and Control Denied fame.Elite players in their own right, this trio effortlessly incorporates other players into the scheme as the disc winds on.

Young vocal prodigy Clark Brown (Geezer) helps start the album off on the right foot on the opening title track.Crackling power metal with an interesting and modern sound, the song gets an added boost from guest keyboardist Vitali Kuprij of Artension, whose solo lends a progressive feel to the mix.Murphy works well with this element in the music, trading solos with Matt Guillory of Dali's Dilemma on the next song, "Contagion," and elsewhere.Old friend Chuck Billy is also brought on board and his bellowing vocals on "No One Can Tell You" recall his classic collaborations with Murphy in Testament.Perhaps the most interesting musical arrangement, however, occurs on "Through Your Eyes (Distant Mirrors).". Bookended with the heavy, growling vocals of Chris Long (Under), the song's center is a gorgeous and lush breakdown with stunning vocals from Trent Gardner of Magellan.Instrumentals like "Race With Devil On Spanish Highway" and "Odyssey" allow Murphy to experiment and, at the same time, keep things fresh and interesting throughout.

Some of Murphy's older fans will undoubtedly be upset with the tone of the album. Not nearly as angry, chaotic or rebellious as many of his past offerings, it is nonetheless an accomplished work that does not lack for heaviness. On Feeding The Machine, we find a guitarist who doesn't have to take chances anymore; this time around it's sufficient to produce some great metal, and demonstrate the kind of polish that only the best can.

This review is credited to:
Death_Explosion