Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius – Impostor! (7D Media, 2024)
After six years in the making, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius has released Impostor!, an extraordinary album with a vigorous combination of progressive rock, fiddle virtuosity, and social commentary.
Released under Trey Gunn’s 7D Media label, this album highlights Deninzon’s unique mastery of the violin as a lead instrument in a genre dominated by guitars, weaving his influences and insights into every track. Throughout the album, the violin is joined by Stratospheerius, a fabulous band of talented instrumentalists.
On Impostor!, Deninzon explores the emotional and cultural turbulence he’s observed, packaged in fierce instrumental sections, complex narratives, and a distinctively American rock sensibility.
Deninzon’s expertise on the violin, rarely featured as prominently in the rock sphere, brings a searing intensity to Impostor!. He’s a fiery virtuoso who delivers solos with blistering speeds and intricate phrasing.
Musically, Deninzon draws on progressive and classic rock roots. The album opens with the instrumental “Voodoo Vortex II,” that is deeply inspired by the great fusion violinists Jean Luc Ponty and Jerry Goodman.
“Outrage Olympics” dives headfirst into the cultural arena, offering a sharp critique of cancel culture through rich vocal harmonies, riveting electric violin solos, and symphonic undertones. The present-day dystopian narrative shows how both the world at large and his fantastic band are being spied upon by drones and cameras.
The title track, “Impostor!,” tackles the universal struggle of impostor syndrome. Reminiscent of Kansas with its soulful vocals, organ, and fiddle-driven passages, it features hooks that linger long after, accompanied by epic violin shredding with layers of powerful instrumentation.
“Cognitive Dissonance,” featuring guest vocals by Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson), delves into the divisive efefct of religious intolerance. The track’s high point is a jaw-dropping instrumental section where Deninzon’s violin duels with guitar.
“Storm Surge” marks an acoustic shift, with its gentle opening of guitar and violin, before it builds into a bold, hard-rock anthem. Addressing anxiety, the song enlists prominent figures like pianist Rachel Flowers, guitarist Fernando Perdomo, and Saga’s Michael Sadler. It is inspired by Friedrich Burgmuller’s 19th-century piano piece L’Orage.
The album’s sole cover, King Crimson’s “Frame by Frame,” gives Deninzon’s violin the spotlight in a reimagined interpretation of this progressive classic, with added harmonies from Val Vigoda (Groovelily). Deninzon’s approach breathes new life into the piece, celebrating both the legacy of King Crimson and his own innovative spirit.
A splendid instrumental, “Voodoo Vortex Part I,” displays Deninzon’s versatility with a breathtaking array of violin techniques, from rich textures to unusual effects. Meanwhile, the acoustic “Tripping the Merry-Go-Round” borrows its title from a Bruce Springsteen lyric, with Deninzon performing most of the strings himself. It’s a reflective piece, capturing the cyclical nature of relationships and life’s relentless pace, as Deninzon describes it, “If Gentle Giant wrote ‘Eleanor Rigby.’”
The album closes with the epic “Chasing the Dragon,” a 12-minute suite that incorporates symphonic rock, fusion, and classic rock influences. Here, Deninzon addresses the never-ending chase for fulfillment, asking, “Are we ever satisfied?” as he likens the “dragon” to an ever-elusive dream. With guest vocalist Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), this final track leaves listeners contemplating their own “dragons” and the goals that forever lie just out of reach.
Impostor! is an ambitious work that brims with Deninzon’s signature mix of audacious violin work and thought-provoking storytelling.
Musicians: Joe Deninzon on electric 7-string violin, acoustic violin, viola, chin cello, lead and backing vocals, and producer; Michelangelo Quirinale on guitars; Paul Ranieri on bass; Jason Gianni on drums; and Bill Hubauer on keyboards.
Mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser (Tears for Fears, Dream Theater, Weezer).
Artwork and design by Jody Gianni Creative.
Buy Impostor!.