MagnaFreaQ - Lazer Sharp
Rock, Metal, Hip Hop
California, United States
Overall Impression: Having grown up listening to classic heavy metal and spending many long afternoons air guitaring to all my favorite songs, I was overcome with joyful glee when firing up "Lazer Sharp". Not only does the track capture the spirit of the genre perfectly, but it is a shining example of excellent musicianship and impeccable songwriting. MagnaFreaQ carves up a meaty slice of classic '80s inspired heavy metal that has both great style and an even greater sense of fun.
Strongest Point(s): Beginning with twin lead harmonized guitars, epic synth, and bombastic drums, "Lazer Sharps" wastes no time in telling you what type of listening experience you're in for, and brilliantly captures the sonic aesthetic of the genre brilliantly. Quickly transitioning into a briskly up-tempo and chunky palm-muted led twin rhythm attack, the song grabs you and refuses to let go for the duration. The performances are superb, each and every performer is firing on all cylinders to deliver a blistering display of technique and mature musicianship, from the soaring lead vocal performance to the outstanding guitar work, every element of "Lazer Sharps" is working in perfect tandem. Contrast plays a very important role in the track, and it's great to see that a lot of thought has gone into the arrangement and how the general flow is diversified. An example would be the shift to a slower tempo in the latter half of the track, this works extremely well and provides great variation compared to the more intense first half. Great performances and songwriting can sometimes be let down by a sub-par recording, but thankfully this is certainly not the case here. The recording and overall mix are excellent, every detail of the track is clear and distinct, and whilst the recording has a definite sheen to it, it doesn't feel over-produced which can sometimes detract a lot of character from a track, a great balance has been struck and this results in a fantastic listening experience from start to finish.
Target Audience Appeal: This is certainly a tune for fans of classic '80s inspired heavy metal. There are also definite power metal elements to the track and fans of this specific sub-genre will love what "Lazer Sharp" has to offer.
Artist target suggestions: Rhapsody, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Edguy, Hammerfall, Sonata Artica, Stratovarius, Helloween, Running Wild, Avantasia, Freedom Call
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.