Derek Sherinian
Mythology

THE REVIEW

Just a year after his previous solo work, Derek Sherinian returns in grand style, accompanied by an impressive lineup of musicians: Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Steve Stevens, Zakk Wylde, and John Sykes take turns on the guitar, with Simon Phillips and Brian Ticky on drums, and Tony Franklin, Marco Mendoza, and Rufus Philpot on bass.

Considering that Sherinian is an excellent keyboardist—it's no coincidence that both Kiss and Alice Cooper wanted him on tour—the album, as was easy to predict, is centered around the guitar and the "performances" of the gentlemen mentioned above.
Holdsworth opens the festivities, chiming in at 3'33" on the opening track "Day Of The Dead"; his sound and touch are obviously "alien," and what surprises is the ease with which he moves in an unusual setting for him, incorporating, with customary naturalness, outside phrases on Nu Metal riffs!
The flow continues with "Alpha Burst" and "God Of War", echoing Dream Theater, with Stevens and Wylde trading… the axe. Stevens picks up the classical guitar in "El flamenco suave" and delivers a chilling solo; Lukather responds with incredible feeling on "Goin’ To Church".
The real gem of the album, however, comes with "One Way Or The Other": a tribute to 70s jazz-rock—Soft Machine, Gong, Colosseum, take your pick—of which Allan Holdsworth and Jerry Goodman (guest on the track, on violin) prove to have been the pioneers. The minor-key, sappy "A View From The Sky" and "The River Song", the only sung track, are less impressive; for the rest, the album is absolutely unmissable!