Art Metal (Eklundh/Hellborg/Shakti content)

[DDDorian]

In 2007 fusion bassist Jonas Hellborg, guitarist Mattias "IA" Eklundh and Remember Shakti percussionist V. Selvanganesh recorded the self-titled Art Metal album and I've been spinning it almost constantly ever since. The album also features Jens and Anders Johannsen (bestknown as members of Yngwie Malmsteen's band) on keys and drums respectively, as well as some other guys with names I'm not even gonna try and type As you can probably guess, the album sits somewhere between fusion, metal and traditional Indian music, so lots of polyrythyms and crazy solos, as well as plenty of time signatures to beat yourself over the head with. Definitely the heaviest thing any of the members have ever done too (not that it's Napalm Death or anything).

Don't believe me? Have some clips:

YouTube - Art Metal - 01 - Muthucutpor

YouTube - Vyakhan-kar

YouTube - Art Metal - 04 - Solitude

Enjoy!

 

[S-O]

I have the CD and I love it, it is up there with the work Shawn lane and Jonas Hellborg did together.

 

[troyguitar]

Eh. I have listened to it 5 times or so but it's just too out there for me.

Also, you probably know but in case you don't: Jens was also on keys in Stratovarius for a long time and Anders has been drumming for HammerFall for some time.

 

[progmetaldan]

Yeah I've got this, absolutely brilliant! The Indian guy on percussion is Selvaganesh, and he played with John McLaughlin on the more recent 'Remember Shakti' concerts, and the rest of the Swedes are just incredible right throughout the album. Some of the rhythmic intricacies (sp?) in the unisons between all 5 members have to be heard to be believed, Jonas is an absolute monster with is slap-bass, Mattias is his usual freaky self, though doesn't spoil the songs by being too wierd, the Johannsen brothers are their brilliant solid selves, and Selvaganesh, what he manages to bash out of that clay pot, is just amazing. Highly recommended!

 

[jacksonplayer]

I love this album!

Mattias hasn't quite developed the musical rapport with Hellborg that Shawn Lane had, but give it some time and I bet he will.

 

[Esp Griffyn]

Good but nowhere near as good as the Shawn Lane era.

 

[shadowlife]

From the tracks i've heard, this is pretty good, but i much prefer the album Hellborg did with Niladri Kumar and Selvaganesh called "Kali's Son".

 

[progmetaldan]

I love this album!

Mattias hasn't quite developed the musical rapport with Hellborg that Shawn Lane had, but give it some time and I bet he will.

That will be an awesome thing to experience if they ever reach that sort of level!

 

[Naren]

Those tracks actually sounded pretty cool. I particularly liked Vyakhan-kar.

 

[Harry]

I've got the Art Metal album and I quite like it

 

[rahul_mukerji]

I thought that was an excellent offering. I liked that album quite a bit. Love the riffs he has there and the percussion is quite something else.