Sobygge, Michael - No Words Needed

Joe stuck around for the next album the following year, and allowed himself to be much more to the fore while Michael added the role of bass and piano to his repertoire. This starts with a mighty kick to the nether regions as “Awakening” really blasts from the speakers. Production-wise there has been a step change since the debut, and there is never any doubt that this is an album by a guitarist, with all of the arrangements designed to have him front and centre. As with the debut, this is much more than just a heavy metal shred fest, and “Spanish Interlude” works incredibly well with a real depth of feeling and emotion through the classical guitar. It is an album that refuses to stay within any single genre or musical form, and is the better for that. Although not always as inventive as the debut, this is a more complete piece of work overall.