What makes a great instrumental album? This is a question that we should ponder with intellect and attention, focus and heart. To take on a instrumental project one must allow the axe to speak instead of vocals, and it has to be done in a very concise manner, or all is lost on the novice listener. Mark Schuster’s ‘Monster Me’ is described by the artist as 10 Instrumental Hard/Rock Metal songs. I describe it as a Story told by guitar. A story that is unique to whomever is listening, it is not overplayed, the melody is present, and never foregone to ‘ham it up’. So often soloists violate that simple rule. They overplay and what is sacrificed is the journey. The track ‘Agree to Disagree’ slows down in the appropriate places to allow the eyes to focus as the ears react pleasantly. By the time I reached ‘Bang Bang’ I had chosen a destination in my mind and Mark allowed me to roam freely with the perfect tone and pitch. This player is confident, energetic and hammers you when necessary. The artist uses effects and delays appropriately throughout his pieces and he holds notes and picks never forgetting that a hammer needs a nail if you are going to build something. Dancing with the Devil is a track that did just that, what a build up. I think that this is a must listen. The instrumental's make a collectors overall appreciation of metal have an almost academic meaning. This album needs to find it’s way into your mind and cd case. Congrats Mark my first 5 on the old 1-5 scale.

When you put in an instrumental guitar album and the next thing you know it's over, it's either a ringing endorsement or a death sentence. In this case, it is surely the former. The flow of this record is seamless and expert, and is just the beginning of the words you could use to describe Schuster's impeccably clean soulful style. For the Full review click the website link above!