Marcel Coenen
Guitartalk

Here I am reviewing a new instrumental guitar album. You've probably already turned the page after reading reviews on Michael Angelo or Rusty Cooley, which completely criticized the work of the two six or seven-string speedsters.

Well, here we are faced with a work that in many respects is completely different and better, much better. Marcel Coenen is a Dutch guitarist, founding member of Sun Caged, a progressive metal band. Our chubby and long-haired Dutchman, let's be honest right away, plays fast (not as fast as Cooley....!) on his 7-string, but every now and then he gives us excellent insights that raise the value of his solo work.
This album was entirely recorded in a home studio, with sampled drums and bass. But this takes almost nothing away from the work. The album and its personal style is a "dangerous" mix between Vai, Petrucci, and Satriani: even in his way of playing he is close to the three guitar heroes, but I don't think this is a flaw.

The album opens with "Independence Day": a fast and powerful track, an excellent introduction. Things get even better with the following "Race against time", a track with a driving and very cheerful rhythm. The first gem arrives with "Inner Alchemy". The slow track is the most "Vaian" I've ever heard: a very similar use of the whammy and melodies akin to good Steve. "Fusion" is a good piece and I find it quite original. While the following "rebel" I find too long-winded as well as "Fairy Tale". In these two pieces, he somewhat lets himself go with the technique, and in the melodic parts, there is a bit of a lack of truly noteworthy ideas.
Here comes "The wet season". A somewhat Satriani-esque piece. On the other hand, I think I hate "Anthem" as a song: really senseless, and his attempt to be likable is a bit irritating. "Shoreline" is also a good track, but the second gem comes with the second slow: "Moyra" is excellent, it always stays within Vai's beloved realms, but the melodies are truly commendable. "Move that groove" is another song that dangerously reminds me of Satriani, while "Endless" is the right ending for this album: acoustic sounds, excellent melodic solutions, and a great technical work.

He definitely has room for improvement on a personal level: in my opinion, he gets too close to what are the masters of electric guitar, but he undoubtedly produces a work that is light years ahead of more renowned current shredders (Cooley, Fareri, Angelo). Worth listening to.