The critical acclaim for Xander Demos’ Guitarcadia continues to pour in, as two more publications have posted reviews this week, Pegasus Flight from Greece and Roman Midnight Music. Thanks to both for great reviews! Read a sample of both below, and be sure to visit their respective websites for the complete article.
Originally posted by Flight Of Pegasus on 6/21/12. “This is a musician who has attended and assimilated very nice way of developments on exachordis bears recognizable, various origins of the virtuosos of the species and, as of any serious omotechnos, nourishes a fair, healthy desire to become remarkable. There is, however, for someone who speed through sound wordy and overweening. Does not ignore the importance of beautiful melody, while there may be exuberant and explosive..”
Originally posted by Roman Midnight Music on 6/21/12: Breaking out on his own with his first full-release guitarist XD, pronounced /dee mos/ like something in a horror movie not /demos/ like a band’s poorly recorded cassette, has fashioned ten very solid tracks of instrumental 80’s influenced guitar rock. The result feels like Joe Satriani & Eric Johnson but without some of the personality crisis quirkiness their music has, plus a bit of Dream Theater in the ambiance without the heavy droning classical inflection & never ending songs &/or solos. Having already been caught as a supporting act for UFO, Lizzy Borden, Kip Winger, Neil Zaza & Dio Disciples, in 2009 XD released his solo debut, Road To Guitarcadia, from which part of that EP has been moved over here & given some new relatives. Part of the proceeds from that album, it deserves note, went to animal charities. Guitarcadia has driving guitar lines but without the reliance on highly repetative riffing. It’s straight out of the 80’s school where there’s a strong melody that actually can be followed … versus some instrumental guitar albums that sound like one long solo going nowhere & getting nowhere. Keyboards tucked in the mix, occassionally coming up for a bit more air, also help tremendously to add texture to the songs, as this type of guitar album often suffers from a one-dimensional feeling. The linear approach of the guitar can often come out sounding very flat & the keyboards give Guitarcadia a pop … so much so I’d recommend this album to other guitarists looking to create their own Guitarcadia…”–Aaron Joy