Release of instrumental albums nowadays is a rather risky business economically speaking, even Andrey Smirnoff admits it in an interview, but from a career point of view, the passion for music can only be a plus. Conceived between tours with the legendary U.D.O. band, led by Udo Dirkschneider, with whom he has been playing since 2012, the solo album Electric Gravity contains ten tracks and will be officially released in the fall. From other interviews I've also learned that the drums for the album were recorded ten years ago, and the ideas were gathered in time, saved, and, with the pandemic, paradoxically, Smirnoff found the time to deal with his solo album. The Russian-born guitarist and songwriter has an impressive career behind him, has been part of numerous musical projects, has also sung with Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley (both former Iron Maiden members at different times, first before Bruce Dickinson's arrival in the band, second in the '90s when he left the band for a while), but also in Russian heavy metal bands such as Everlost or Master.
The Electric Gravity album is not a typical one, it does not fall in a single musical direction, almost every song is different in approach. The only constant element is the fact that we are dealing with a purely instrumental album, and the main instrument is the guitar. The song that debuts the material and the first single, Samurai, is heavy, modern, with strong riffs, full of energy. The second song, Dream It Out Loud, is already a bit more melodic, reminiscent of the '80s (in metal, obviously) without missing the heavy elements. Djentology, as its name suggests, is a djent piece, a fashionable approach in recent years, which has gained many followers. However, groove elements are not missing here either, in some places it reminds of Megadeth, just like the next song, Wings Of Freedom, one of the most complex on the whole album, creates a dance atmosphere, and the next song, Magic Dancer, does nothing other than to continue the atmosphere, in an even more melodic, ballad-like musical setting. This is one of the songs I listened to the most on the album, it has something of Mike Oldfield, but here you can see very well the originality of Andrey Smirnoff, whose guitar can make a sound reminiscent of something, but it is as personal as it gets.
Ligth and Shadow is, we think, the album's piece de resistance, no wonder he chose this one as a single. It is heavy, but classic, it brings Motzart, but also Yngwie Malmsteen. With this song you could start or end concerts, it could be the soundtrack of a movie with car chases or simply a song on which to headbanging yourself at home. Coming Home has nostalgic tones, doubled by heavy riffs, and Twist me is the most groove and jazzy song on the album. Escape brings electro elements and is a breath-taking piece, good to prepare the end of the album, which is done with the tenth song Where The Rivers Flow, another heavy song, carefully constructed.
Even if there seem to be too many elements in one album, they fit well with each other and after several listens to the album I can say that it is one of great quality, with many high moments, when Andrey Smirnoff's guitar creates electricity and shines in the dark.
Tracklist:
1. Samurai
2. Dream It Out Loud
3. Djentology
4. Wings Of Freedom
5. Magic Dancer
6. Ligth and Shadow
7. Coming Home
8. Twist Me
9. Escape
10. Where The Rivers Flow
Artist: Andrey Smirnoff
Album: Electric Gravity
Year of publication: (September) 2021
