My name is Kevin Zugschwert and I'm a musician specializing in guitar music. I write and produce instrumental heavy metal with focus on the guitar. After playing and recording music for over twenty five years, making the top ten at the Guitar Player Guitar Superstar competition in 2010, making top ten at Guitar Worlds shred the web II with Judas Priest competition in 2009, and teaching guitar for a living, I think of myself as somewhat of an expert at heavy metal guitar techniques. I must apologize in advance for misspellings, grammatical errors etc., I'm not a professional writer, I'm a musician, just like you.

First things first. Wow! What an amazing guitar instrumental.
I think in all my years of studying guitar and listening to instrumental guitar albums, I've probably heard them all. This one is special. I'm sure a lot of people out there may disagree with me. However, I find this to be one of the best of all the instrumental shred-fest type of albums out there. I say one of the best because it sits on my shelf next to the Joe Satriani Anthology record. Granted this is a compilation of the mans entire career. Jeff is a lot younger and will hopefully reach that stage where he has a greatest songs collection as well. It also sits next to a few Steve Vai titles. Certainly, Yngwie Malmsteen can't be left out. How about Jason Becker next to him with Marty Friedman on that cover also. I've got a couple Vinnie Moore titles too. The point is, a lot of great shredders have done this type of record, but dare I say not quite as heavy as 'Zero Order Phase.'

The album kicks off blasting double kick drums and heavily distorted seven string electric guitar. Then the leads start flying through flurries of well calculated note choices and execution. Great melodies provide a break from all that speed. The album has everything a heavy metal connoisseur could ask for. Just name a guitar technique used in rock or metal and it's been done here with extreme accuracy.
Arpeggio sweeps, string bends and vibrato of all shapes and sizes, harmonized leads, legato, sustained harmonics etc. etc....

The use of keyboards and synths is excellent as well. The drums are really exceptional too. To me, part of the enjoyment of listening to this record is not only Jeffs amazing technique and songwriting but also in the production. The balance of the mix with so many heavy guitar tones and harmonized lines sometimes running in parallel with the main melody line is quite extraordinary.

"Sacristy". I read somewhere that Jeff wrote this song in an attempt be a bit Satriani-esque. He pulled it off wonderfully. It's as good as anything Satriani has ever done. Apparently not as popular though, but I dig it. It has great acoustic guitar, piano, and then it hits you. He goes back into the heavy sh%@. Then a really wild two guitar harmony line panned hard right and left in the mix. Very cool.

One can't talk about 'Zero Order Phase' without mentioning 'Miles of Machines'. It starts with an amazing classical guitar sound running arpeggios from hell as Yngwie Malmsteen might call it. Then the electric guitar comes in with the same type of runs. The accuracy and complexity of the lead lines are stunning to say the least. Jeff always knows when to give the listener a brake from a barrage of notes by dropping in with a slow melodic guitar solo and great use of sustained artificial harmonics along with clean guitar sounds in the mix. The song ends as it started. All guns blazing. Fitting for the end of a record, the 'Departure'. A very dark, haunting tune to send you out amidst the wolves and leave you wanting to push play to start the whole thing all over again. Dig it, love it, rock it!!!

Cheers,

Kevin Zugschwert
www.KJZmusic.com

Crank up the title song of my new record,
download it for free, and let me know what you think.

"Listen to what some people are saying about Kevin Zugschwert..."
* Elliot Easton - "You can obviously play like a lunatic."
* Reeves Gabrels - "Excellent technique, great chops."
* Gary Hoey - "You did an awesome job."
* George Lynch - "Kevins a super nice guy, this music is a vehicle to show what a fast guitar player you are."