Elmo Karjalainen
The Free Guitar Album (KC Sound, 2015)
If you’re into the electric guitar hero albums, you need to check out this outstanding collection of masterful instrumentals. Elmo Karjalainen is a Finnish multi-instrumentalist (primarily a guitar player) and composer who has played in various heavy metal bands like Deathlike Silence, Seagrave and Conquest.
Although Karjalainen injects some heavy metal moments, thankfully most of the album is a mix of virtuoso electric guitar pieces with blues, rock, fusion and progressive rock. Karjalainen’s shredding is spectacular so if like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, you’ll really like this recording.
The Free Guitar Album refers to the fact that the digital form of this album is available for free. However, if you want to support Elmo Karjalainen and enjoy more of his music in the future, you should go ahead and buy the CD.
The highlights on The Free Guitar Album include “Don’t Quit Yer Day Job” a great piece that consists of several fabulous solos separated by brief metallic riffs featuring Jeff Beck-style funky electric piano; and the superb wailing blues “She Sleeps on the Moon” which features some symphonic elements.
Another high point is “Algorhythm” where Elmo Karjalainen enters progressive rock territory, introducing unexpected time signatures, exploratory elements and more guitar virtuosity. “The Gentle Art of Listening” continues the progressive rock direction with a heavy blues beat, knock out guitar solos and symphonic rock keyboards.
More high spots: “The Bolero Unravels (I Come Undone), inspired by Ravel’s Bolero, builds up very nicely, increasingly in intensity; and the laid back “Relax.”
The CD includes three bonus tracks. “Don’t Quit Yer Day Job”, “Algorhythm” and “She Sleeps on the Moon” return with alternate solos. An added treat for guitar lovers.
The Free Guitar Album is an exceptionally good album of electric guitar instrumentals by the talented Elmo Karjalainen, inspired by classical music, rock, blues and jazz.