There are many talented guitarists in the land of Homer: Gus. G (actually Kostas Karamitsoudis), Angelo Perlepes, Overlord and just Theodore Ziras for instance. Theodoros started to play the guitar at the age of 15, and also learned playing the piano and music theory. Mr. Ziras graduated from Northumbria University in Newcastle (Faculty of International Business Administration) and Guitar Institute in London (Faculty of Pop Music and Composition). A Greek guitarist has always been interested in many music genres like classical, guitar-oriented music, progressive rock, pop, jazz and fusion. His interests oscillate around neoclassical tones, jazz harmony, rhythm and counterpoint. Theodore participates in guitar clinics, records instructional stuffs and teaches about forty students a week guitar playing (Guitar School247). His name can be associated with such bands and artists like: Ice Divine (power metal), Guardian Angel (progmetal), Bob Katsionis (keyboard virtuoso), AntenergeiA (metal opera), and neoclassical power metal band Euroforce over all! When I listened to samples from Ziras' solo debut for the first time, I started to strive for this stuff very actively. Theodore is numbered among those guitarists who can boast about their almost unequalled style. Mr. Ziras is the only one hero on "Trained To Play" and responsible for electric & acoustic guitars, rhythm programming and orchestrations. Another factor stimulating me to review this CD was its interesting title and a cover at the same time. It is obvious that the title can be regarded as a paranomasia in a case. There is a train on the cover, and the first sound is a reflection of going train. This latter word can be connected with other words: "training" and "to train" with reference to guitar practicing. I hope you get the point. Here are some initial hints concerning tempos we gonna encounter. Great beginning sets my attitude on a right track, haha. "Future Memories" is the most hit composition on this album. Positive emotions inside the track and connected with sad mood and fairylike orchestrations make me think of George Bellas' works (it is similar in "Never Breaking The Rules"). Although "Confusing Check" reminds me of Bellas' solo releases, I must admit that Theodore has enriched neoclassical composition by jazz improvisations. A very fast "Dash" refers to classical music of baroque era. "Common Transition", based on surprising agogical turns, should appeal to the fans of first Borislav Mitic's solo CD and Joe Stump's solo works. "The First Attempt" and "The Vital Lead" are distinguished by dynamism and lofty character. It's something great for buffs of Tony MacAlpine's first two solo albums and "Out Of The Sun" by Joey Tafolla. "Mysterious Simplicity" is a heavy metal track, but in more contemporary meaning, similar to Marty Friedman's music on "Music For Speeding". I have always been interested in dialogues between two guitar voices. Such an instrumental solution is done in "The Gush". I admit that Ziras' manner can remind you of Jason Becker's at some fragments. I don't write that Theodore clones Jason! Firstly, American virtuoso is a typical shredding metal representative closely related to speed metal, secondly Theodore belongs to the second generation of neoclassicists after Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Stump for instance. Surely, a common factor is the speed of their music. Greek guitarist proves with "Missing God" that instrumental ballads aren't strangers to him. The album crowning "Symphonious Departure" is highly orchestral, so all the associations with Malmsteen's "Concerto Suite" are proper. I realize that some people can accuse me of pigeonholing Theodore's music, but I cannot help it, since Mr. Ziras derives many influences from other guitarists' works. I don't mind classifying his music as fusion metal. It can seem to be strange, but I think that the titles of individual tracks can help the listener in understanding Theodore's music: "Future Memories", "Common Transition", "The Vital Lead", "Mysterious Simplicity", "Missing God" or "Symphonious Departure". Aforementioned labels to the compositions are significant, since they illustrate the music very well. "Trained To Play", like many guitar-oriented albums, is characterized by a clear production, so it's hard to pick on something. If you like neoclassical metal with complex orchestrations, you should try listening to "Trained To Play", because it is a Greek pearl of neoclassical style.

this cd is unreal good,,a modern bach that shreds out of this world,this is a real energetic musical masterpiece,,if you do not want to buy this cd,you don,t really love music,period!!!!