Artist: TONY MACALPINE
Album: CONCRETE GARDENS (DIGI)

Release date: 2015
Media type: CD

In his 29-year career, Tony MacAlpine has redefined instrumental hard rock, jazz-fusion and heavy metal for a generation of progressive-minded music fanatics. Whether it's been as a solo artist, or with the progressive supergroup PSMS (with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian); the mind-bending metal fusion band PLANET X (with Derek Sherinian and Virgil Donati); the Grammy-nominated jazz-fusion group CAB; or in the band of another guitar hero Steve Vai, MacAlpine has continued to evolve and set the bar exceedingly high.

On April 21, Tony will release his highly anticipated opus "Concrete Gardens" (SunDog Records), featuring 12 tracks of complex, intricate, yet hook-laden melodies, blinding solos and crushing 7- and 8-string guitar riffs, complemented by his own equally exceptional keyboards. This is built atop a formidable rhythmic foundation laid down by Brazilian drum sensation Aquiles Priester (PRIMAL FEAR, HANGAR, ex-ANGRA).

"Aquiles is an incredibly gifted and dynamic drummer," says MacAlpine. "I truly enjoyed recording 'Concrete Gardens' with him, and of course touring with him since 2012."

Rounding out the rhythm section is bassist Pete Griffin (SHINING, GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA), along with guest appearances by bassists Sean Delson (FOZZY, STUCK MOJO), Lucky Islam and MacAlpine himself. Guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY, CONQUERING DYSTOPIA, ex-NEVERMORE) guests for an extended guitar solo trade.

"Concrete Gardens" was mixed by Brazilian producer and engineer Adair Daufembach, and mastered by Seva David Ball.

"It was a great experience to work with an engineer who knows exactly what I want, and exactly how to get it done — and Adair did it effortlessly," says MacAlpine, "and Seva is a warm, kind, perfectionist who masters in a very organic way. He was my number one choice for mastering my new music."

Written and recorded in his Pasadena, California home studio (with drums recorded in Brazil), MacAlpine has blended metal, prog, jazz-fusion and rock into a tightly wound trip that is reflected in the album's title — both brutal and beautiful.

TRACKLIST:

01. Exhibitionist Blvd. (4:28)
02. The King's Rhapsody (4:45)
03. Man In A Metal Cage (4:20)
04. Poison Cookies (5:06)
05. Epic (5:00)
06. Napoleon's Puppet (5:13)
07. Sierra Morena (4:52)
08. Square Circles (5:12)
09. Red Giant (5:10)
10. Confessions of a Medieval Monument (5:43)
11. Concrete Gardens (5:03)
12. Maiden's Wish (4:19)