Evermoving

I'm sure a few of you will know Toby Knapp. He was one of those Shrapnel Records virtuosos from the early '90s. Now he's back with his new band Onward. With vocalist Michael Grant, bassist Randy LaFrance, and drummer John Pereau he creates a great band. For those who haven't heard Toby Knapp you need to hear him. He's a guitar GOD! He is a neo-classical shredder with an obvious Yngwie influence but he's far from a clone. Since Knapp was a Shrpanel shredder you might think the solos dominate the songs and become wankering showpieces (see Vinnie Vincent) but they don't. The solos actually fit quite well in the trad/power/thrash style Onward play. On Evermoving most of the songs are traditional metal with power metal influences but on songs like Absolution Mine there is a lot of thrash influence too. Michael Grant's vocals are unique and very good. At times he sounds like Hansi Kursch but he is always fairly unique. The opening song, The Kindness of Strangers, has a long outro solo that may be the best on the album. And it's not all shredding, about half of the solo is melodic and thematic. The next song, Onward, has great fills and solo from Knapp. But my favorite song is Abolsution Mine. Crazy solos and thrashy riffs make a very cool song. If you like melodic bands like Jag Panzer, Iron Maiden, Stratovarius, and to a lesser degree Iced Earth you would like this. If you like shredding like Yngwie or Impellitteri you must get Evermoving.