Speed Metal Symphony (Speed Metal Symphony - Cacophony)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Speed Metal Symphony - Cacophony
Date:	05/04/08 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Virtuoso guitar performances at little cost to the more simple pleasures.

Disadvantages: Can go too far in each direction on occasion.

Cacophony's two albums are targeted primarily at guitar fans, but have still been commendably designed to appeal to casual metal fans who aren't averse to a bit of fret masturbation. Well alright, a lot of it.

Led by the guitar talents of Marty Friedman (who would later join Megadeth) and the young Jason Becker (he was seventeen when this was recorded), the slightly arrogantly titled 'Speed Metal Symphony' holds together really well, and will be a refreshing change of pace for those expecting something technically impressive but devoid of entertainment, as can be the case with the albums of other guitar heroes. The duo work against each other exceptionally well, and although the album takes the plunge into severe shred overkill on occasion, this can't be realistically seen as a drawback, as it's what most people come here expecting. Fortunately, the rest of us get a lot more than that.

These songs tend to be on the long side, to make time for the guitar theatrics, but that doesn't mean they're not accessible. Peter Marino's vocals are well suited to the speed metal style, which occasionally crosses over into thrash on songs such as 'Burn the Ground' and the Testament-like 'Desert Island,' and he manages to make the choruses worthwhile and memorable, rather than something to insert between solos for the sake of greater sales. This really does feel like a proper band rather than a mere vehicle to show off Friedman and Becker's talents, despite this obviously being its main function, and it's only the tellingly titled 'Concerto' and 'Speed Metal Symphony' that really fall into the pure shred category, both of which are impressive but less easily palatable to casual listeners.

1. Savage
2. Where My Fortune Lies
3. The Ninja
4. Concerto
5. Burn the Ground
6. Desert Island
7. Speed Metal Symphony

Summary: Cacophony's first album (1987).