Feeding The Machine Muncie IN

Feeding The Machine

James Murphy

Shrapnel Records, 1999

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 07/07/1999

It's hell being a virtuoso. Just ask James Murphy, one of themost-in-demand guitarists of today's metal genre. In recent months,it's been hard to find a disc that Murphy hasn't contributed hissix-string work to.

On his latest solo effort, Feeding The Machine, Murphy assembles some of the genre'sbigger and up-and-coming names to help him create the ultimatemetal groove. Unfortunately, while some of the work is phenomenal,most of it is merely adequate.

Being a sensational guitarist, one would think that Murphy wouldkeep his six-string work at the forefront of the material, and keepthe songs as instrumentals. Instead, Murphy almost treats his ownalbum as a session he was hired for, allowing other people likeChuck Billy (from Testament) and Trent Gardner (Magellan) to takeover the spotlight.

Regrettably, this is the first problem with Feeding The Machine. No disrespect is meant towards thevocalists, but they end up stealing the thunder from Murphy ontracks like "No One Can Tell You" and "Visitors". It's not that thetracks are bad, but they don't seem to really give Murphy the roomto show his talents.