John Ivan feat. Nick Z Marino - Never Give up (Official Video, GuitarSlinger album)
Relocated in due time to the US, John Ivan wasted no time; good work and business contacts followed, and here is his debut (and mostly vocal) solo CD GuitarSlinger at last. And believe me, GuitarSlinger is a record tailor-made for that Shrapnel Records of old! More in common with Shrapnel heaviest and most “modern” releases from the 90s — Tony Fredianelli, Toby Knapp, and Scott Stine's solo works — GuitarSlinger is a real guitar record for the 2020s without any doubt. Even those who have little or no interest in such kinds of recordings described it as an “impressive work,” at least.
The backbone of GuitarSlinger formed by tracks recorded with vocalist/keyboard player Nick Z Marino — opener Low Riders, Gypsy Woman, and Never Give Up — which can be only described as a clever compromise between early 90s techno metal of Dream Theater and vicious, even brutal groove of classic Pantera, not at least due to the nature of Nick’s vocals, but John Ivan’s signature playing matters too, of course. It’s those rare examples of how vocal tracks may be far better showcases for real aggressive guitar players than instrumental tracks from the same album’s program.
And please notice Racer X’s harmonic arrangement in the final section of Low Riders and moody, atmospheric guitar parts in the middle of Gypsy Woman. The only comparison to all these three tracks may be the well-obscured album Changing Times (1995) from Austrian band New World, once fronted by that country guitar virtuoso Milan Polak.
It’s not to say that other tracks are weak — well, they are quite varied, and it’s always a pleasure to hear a really varied debut album from such a high-class guitarist. The best tracks here are pure retro metal stomp The Prison Sell, sung by first Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin himself, light/shade opus Flyin’ Plane — think of today’s guitar jam of great Uli Jon Roth and once Fifth Angel player James Byrd — graced by truly versatile voice of Mark Boals (ex-Royal Hunt and Yngwie Malmsteen), and a powerful hit The Last Loaded Brain Storming featured Elvin Rodriguez. which was also released as an official music video.
John Ivan feat. Elvin Rodriguez - The Last Loaded Brain-Storming (Official Video. GuitarSlinger album)
Well, again, GuitarSlinger, the album, is simply destined to be one of the jewels in the crown of every modern label interested in such forward-thinking guitar stars — Mascot Label Group, anyway?
Listen samples of Guitar Slinger tracks on Bandcamp:
https://johnivan.bandcamp.com/album/guitar-slinger
Purchase Guitar Slinger CD on John Ivan Guitar Slinger Store:
https://johnivanguitarslinger.com/store/
John Ivan is an internationally acclaimed progressive and thrash metal guitarist and songwriter, renowned for his virtuosic high-energy shredding style, lightning-fast heavy riffs, intricate solos, and dynamically electrifying performances. He is a creative and innovative composer, a founder of the thrash metal band BESTIA, a member of the Michael Vescera Project, and co-founder of The Voices of Metal Project.
With his successful career, John Ivan has established himself as a formidable force in the world of rock and metal music. He has collaborated with legendary rock vocalists Tim Ripper Owens, Michael Vescera, Nick Z Marino, Mark Boals, Elvin Rodriguez, Neil Turbin, and Edu Falaschi. John worked with the bassist Gorka Alegre, among other high-profile artists.
John’s latest studio album, entitled "The GuitarSlinger," showcases his immense talent and relentless dedication to his craft, solidifying his status as one of the world’s premier and most distinguished guitarists. With each note, John Ivan continues to push the boundaries of guitar-driven music, inspire and influence aspiring musicians, and leave an indelible mark on the world of rock and metal music.
