Chris Poland
"Chasing the Sun"
Grooveyard Records

Chris Poland is easily one of my favorite guitarists ever. Everything he's done so far, from Megadeth to Damn the Machine and his solo album (Return to Metalopolis) is classic. It's a real shame that no one's heard much from Chris since Damn the Machine folded in the early '90s. He's kept busy since then, and is currently looking for a deal for his fusion trio Ohm, but in the meantime, the fine folks at Grooveyard Records have assembled this nice collection of demos from the past six years to satisfy anyone's Poland cravings.

Half the tracks on "Chasing the Sun" are from his 1994 demo, which was shopped to labels but not available to the general public, and the other half are completely unreleased demos spanning the last half of the '90s. A very cool surprise is the live rendition of "Alexandria" (from "Return to Metalopolis) performed by Ohm. It's a complete reworking of the song that captures the original spirit while updating the arrangement to suit the new group's style. An excellent track. This isn't much of a metal album, but anyone familiar with Poland's work will immediately recognize his playing and writing. There's less distortion and more funk and jazz, but underneath it all it's still the same old Chris. Some songs sound like a mellower take on "Return to Metalopolis", while others fit more into the Allan Holdsworth mold, while still others are really too oddball to categorize. His genius lies in his instrumental compositions and his attention to songwriting; he's not out to prove he's a better guitarist than the rest of us (even though he is), and there is so much more to all of his songs than mere noodling. Of course, there are also a few great noodles, as well as top-shelf support from Mark Poland on drums and Francis DiCosmo on bass (plus Ohm members David Eagle and Robertino Pagliari, drums and bass respectively, on the live track).

Lovers of instrumental guitar albums should consider this potential purchase a no-brainer, and fusion fans are especially encouraged to buy a copy. A special bonus disc is also available from the website with additional rarities, including a track from Chris' post-Damn the Machine band, Mumbo's Brain. (Check out the site: www.grooveyardrecords.com) Hopefully there'll be an Ohm CD out soon, but in the meantime, "Chasing the Sun" is the perfect way to pass the time waiting.

---Matt Johnsen
Metal Maniacs Oct.2000