Paul Wardingham - Assimilate Regenerate, incredible guitarist

[Josh Burgess]

How many of you have heard of this guy? I didn't until about 2 weeks ago. Ridiculously good player... The whole album is awesome.... great lead tone for a POD too

 

[Josh Burgess]

Come on, dudes. This guy has released one of the best instrumental metal albums in ages.

If you like Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry), Jeff Loomis, or, shit, even Guthrie Govan, you should love this stuff!

 

[Erratic]

he got good ideas but this sort of production turns me off for shreds music, sounds too djent for me and I hate djent except for messhugah, it's counter striking itself trying to be melodic and shit with machinal sounding drums and guitar tone, just my 2 cent

EDIT: Amogh Symphony

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkBqxzEhYrY&feature=related[/ame]

 

[prostetnic]

The guy is nothing short of ridiculously good. Not much else to be said

 

[Erratic]

well to you maybe but that just doesn't cut it for me honestly, the guy really is good, but the production doesn't suit him well imo.

EDIT: Sorry I thought you were the OP.

 

[Josh Burgess]

he got good ideas but this sort of production turns me off for shreds music, sounds too djent for me and I hate djent except for messhugah, it's counter striking itself trying to be melodic and shit with machinal sounding drums and guitar tone, just my 2 cent

lol well, I happen to enjoy that "counter striking"... What's wrong with heavy rhythms and melodic leads mixed together? I like both... why not mixed together?

This guy is no more "djent" than Jeff Loomis, Scar Symmetry, Fear Factory, Devin Townsend, The Deftones, etc.... There are tons of Meshuggah-influenced artists that have been around quite a while before all of these Metalcore+Meshuggah riff "djent" bands that have popped up recently. I personally find it refreshing to hear truly heavy riffs and rhythms mixed with GREAT melodic shred. That's why I like Jeff Loomis so much, and this guy is quite similar, in my opinion, except for the obvious jazz fusion influence, which makes him sound more like Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry. Anyways, it doesn't really matter what his influences are. His music is awesome, regardless...

 

[Josh Burgess]

well to you maybe but that just doesn't cut it for me honestly, the guy really is good, but the production doesn't suit him well imo.

EDIT: Sorry I thought you were the OP.

I don't think the mix is great. I didn't say it was. I do think he did a pretty good job for everything being POD and low budget though. The lead tone particularly sounds quite fluid and nice for being a POD.

This thread wasn't about the sound of the mix though. It's about an awesome guitar player/song writer.

 

[Erratic]

Good I wasn't flaming just so you know, but I'd still wait for the next Tony Macalpine record before saying heavy hehehe.

 

[Sacha]

Ridiculously awesome playing, just can't get into the songs.

 

[Rhys Llewellyn]

I really love his lead work. I listened to both tracks posted and found the whole "start stoppy-ness" of the rhythm guitars a little much after a while. Is this what you kids call "djent"?

Technically and musically it is brilliant, but if the whole album is like that, then it's put me right off.

 

[Josh Burgess]

Good I wasn't flaming just so you know, but I'd still wait for the next Tony Macalpine record before saying heavy hehehe.

I like T-Mac. He's a great guitarist... BUT I really consider him more of a rock/fusion guitarist than a metal guitarist. I don't find his stuff very heavy. He has released 2 songs from the new self-titled album already, by the way...

 

[Josh Burgess]

I really love his lead work. I listened to both tracks posted and found the whole "start stoppy-ness" of the rhythm guitars a little much after a while. Is this what you kids call "djent"?

Technically and musically it is brilliant, but if the whole album is like that, then it's put me right off.

It's just heavy 7 string staccato rhythms. You've never heard bands like Fear Factory, Nevermore, Devin Townsend, etc. play stuff like that? It's definitely not some brand new style. I don't understand why that would turn off people who like metal.

 

[Erratic]

I like T-Mac. He's a great guitarist... BUT I really consider him more of a rock/fusion guitarist than a metal guitarist. I don't find his stuff very heavy. He has released 2 songs from the new self-titled album already, by the way...

Yeah I know, but I expect more from him on this new album.

I don't understand why that would turn off people who like metal.

Eh?! Because it's overused?

 

[prostetnic]

it's counter striking itself

We all have different tastes, mate. The start-stop thing may be overused, but in this guy's case, it's mostly about the leads. His phrasing is fantastic and very creative, it actually pushes some of the more sub-par riffing and drum programming to the background. It is extremely notey, but if you check out his videos on youtube where he teaches his licks, you'll understand that every single note has its purpose. And the tones kick arse for a POD, first bearable rhythm POD tone since Bulb's stuff from long ago (disregard Sturgis, he uses POD Farm, not the bean) and a completely adequate lead tone. Tone is in his hands though. If you can make a POD sound good, that means you are a hella player

 

[amarshism]

Great Australian guitar player.

 

[Josh Burgess]

Eh?! Because it's overused?

Eh, it just depends on your tastes, man. I'm sure there are people who don't like metal out there who would say that palm muting, pinch harmonics, tapping, sweeping, and especially screamed/growled vocals are all overused too, and as much as I like all of those things, they would be right.