Cacophony
's second (and last) effort improves on the formula established on their
Speed Metal Symphony
album. The brainchild of guitarists
Marty Friedman
and
Jason Becker
,
is basically an arena in which the two shredders can indulge their most decadent instrumental ideas. Their songs are as influenced by
speed metal
as they are by
neo-classical
prog rock
, which makes them even more intense than many of their
Shrapnel
brethren. On
Go Off!
, the duo clean up the sound a bit and pare back the guitar excesses just a tad, allowing for a slightly more song-oriented approach (similar to what
Racer X
does).
"Stranger"
even has a decent
pop
hook in its chorus. Lead singer
Peter Marrino
adds some rather overwrought
heavy metal
braying and some truly ridiculous lyrics (sample: "Don't mess with a black cat/if you believe in superstition/never mess with a black cat!") which may turn off some listeners. But
Friedman
's and
Becker
's guitars are still the stars of the show here. Their preference for dissonance, odd time signatures, and unpredictably complex arrangements make
a very interesting listen at times. There are even some beautiful moments, like the outro of the title track, where the noise gives way to breathy keyboards and a lyrical solo. For a better sampling of these guitarists' talents, without the annoying vocals, check out their individual solo albums:
's
Dragon's Kiss
Perpetual Burn
. ~ Andy Hinds