Artist: JOE STUMP
Album: THE ESSENTIAL SHRED GUITAR COLLECTION (CD)

Release date: 2009
Media type: CD

Metal guitar virtuoso Joe Stump is the Shred Lord extraordinaire. His performances are bombastic displays of intensity and he was named by Guitar One as one of the ten fastest shredders of all time and by Guitarist magazine as one of the top 20 shredders in the history of metal. He has toured the world extensively as a solo artist and with Joe Stump's Reign of Terror. He is a member of the power metal band HolyHell who recently released their debut album 'HolyHell'. Stump is furthering his legacy by educating guitarists at the world renown Berkley College of Music as an associate professor and shred guitar guru. The list of his former students include members of Anthrax, Firewind, Diecast, Killswitch, Engage and countless others.

In this collection, Joe selects some of his all time favorites from past recordings as well as adding a few new tracks. 'Attack of the Killer Swans' is a neo-classical speed metal tour de force reworking of the 'Enchanted Lake' theme from Tchaikovsky's masterpiece 'Swan Lake'. While another new track, 'The Devil's Fiddler', pays homage to another of Joe's classical heroes Romantic era violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini.

From the fierce Eurometal riffs of 'In For The Kill' and 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' to the neo-classical masterpieces Paganini's 'Revenge and Demon's Eye' to the emotionally gut wrenching guitar work contained in 'Je t'aime' and 'The Dark Gift', today's studio technology breathes new life into the collection of these classic tracks. Killer riffs and strong melodies are combined with Joe's masterful technical command of the instrument to make this record mandatory listening for all fans of European influenced shred, old school hard rock and guitar driven metal. Discover what most music experts already proclaim: Joe is the ultimate guitar monster.

TRACKLIST:

1. Attack Of The Killer Swans 
2. In For The Kill 
3. Paganini's Revenge 
4. Je t'aime 
5. Night Of The Living Shred 
6. Never Forgotten 
7. The Sorcerer's Apprentice 
8. Demon's Eye 
9. R.B.N.C.S.F. NO 2 
10. The Dark Gift 
11. Rapid Fire Rondo 
12. Hurricane X 
13. The Devil's Fiddler