Matt can make you think of power metal band Forgotten Realm. For example, he plays there with a vocalist David Fefolt (Masi Hawk, Valhalla). As a matter of fact, they recorded one CD titled "Power..." (2004, Limb Music Products), but these facts rather won't tell you a few words about Mr. Mills at all. For the moment, we are still waiting for news from their camp. An American's debut solo album - "Matt Mills Project" was recorded in 2002 and consisted of neoclassical-progressive rock music. Its successor is now under my evaluation, haha. I admit that I wasn't entranced after first listening, but, by the following ones, I managed to catch all these elements I used to pass over for the first time. Those particulars are the basis of Matt's artistic accomplishments. In my humble opinion, his second album's title is misleading a little bit, because there are both shredding metal and neoclassical elements. Probably, it had the greatest impact on my first impressions concerning Matt's music and their change after next listenings. Moving to the heart of the matter, I'd like to stress that the first track will set you positively attituded to the final note. The listener has to be prepared for fast, technical and sophisticated parts, moreover - for a dose of melodies, a palette of sounds, fluent passages, frequent tempo changes and surprising gambits. There is no lack of emotionals tracks like "Tower" and "Freedom of the Artistic Mind". I can hear Johann Sebastian Bach's influences in "Flight" (1:30) and "Solo of Shred", but the rest of compositions are close to the classic school of shredding metal. Typical representatives of neoclassical hard'n'heavy music are Yngwie Malmsteen, Vitalij Kuprij (solo metal works), Chris Steberl, Kelly Simonz, Dushan Petrossi, Angelo Perlepes, Overlord, Katsu Ohta, Norifumi Shima, however - Joe Stump, Vinnie Moore (first releases), George Bellas and Tom Hess are on the borderland of neoclassical and shredding metal. I think that Mr. Mills has derived some ideas from the latter ones. There are also characteristic shredders (Rusty Cooley of Outworld and Darin Moore of Legacy) whose music reminds me of "NeoClassical Rock Guitar". In my opinion, Matt is a 95% shredder and a 5% guitar neoclassicist. Let's move back to the contests again. Recently I heard a guy on the radio who said that he started playing flamenco, because "it's more difficult to perform than rock music for instance" and, additionaly, it "flows out itself"?! What? Did he want the listeners to suggest that rock musicians don't know what classical guitar is and how to use it? Let's recollect Malmsteen's "Flamenco Diablo", Alex Masi's classical trilogy and throw in Matt's "Acoustic Solo" to be convinced of my right. In any case, it's similar in the central fragment of a three-part composition of epic character - "Eternity's End". Matt as well prepared for us a demo version of "Shattered Horizons" at the very end of the album. It is meant for Forgotten Realm's next album. You will have a chance of hearing a neoclassical shredder Joe Stump in the same composition. It's a pity that a bit rough and "soiled" sound can't allow me to define the final value of the track precisely. It is not about its structure or performance, because a duo Mills-Stump speaks for itself, but the thing is around embracing all the virtues of music work. As far as the sound is concerned, it's worth remembering that Joe Stump's, Angelo Perlepes' and Legacy's albums aren't distinguished by crystalline production as well. That CD was recorded at Aaron Richert's home studio. Undoubtedly, it wasn't well-equipped. But there's no doubt that 38 minutes with Matthew Mills' music will be a true feast for the listeners practiced in shredding metal and, simultaneously, the usual drag for pop pulp audience, haha. American's music is based on so-called repetitions, that are recurrent characteristic motifs. That's why you can have the impression of speed towering over a melody. It doesn't mean that Matt's music is divested of emotions. Matthew said that "the neoclassical style is often criticized for being cold and unemotional, but that is simply not the case" and "guitar players that play this style well, play it with a lot of emotion". I'd like also to recall you that "NeoClassical Rock Guitar" was a top-selling neoclassical album at the end of the year 2005 at Guitar9 Records' webshop, so it's worth your attention for sure. Personally, I consider Matt's second album a great work with sincere feelings!

A lot of happy power, beautifull speed-up melodical solo's, original tunes... sometimes in 3-4 songs a bit too much Joe Stump, a little chaotic, and repeating high fade-out notes (inspiration ???). It's like the first album of George Bellas; after that, his second and third where much better and well-ballanced; If you want to buy 1 album from Matthew Mills, take the second one: it's nearly perfect- see my review there.