OCTOGLOMERATE REVIEWS

HEADY METAL'S GUITAR ZONE [URL UNKNOWN]
James Byrd is an excellent neoclassical guitarist from Washington State, but he don't assume an Yngwie clone. Byrd's sound is influenced more by European guitarists like Uli Roth and Michael Schenker than it is by Bach or Paganini. His style is much less speed oriented than other neoclassical players and he knows how to play with a lot of emotion. James Byrd was called one of "The ten best guitarists you've never heard of" by Guitar magazine and Yngwie Malmsteen said "James Byrd is the most exciting European sounding guitarist I've heard in years."

James Byrd's first instrumental, "Octoglomerate", really demonstrates what makes him different than the typical neoclassical player. Songs like "Sunburst" combine a heavy riffs and classical melody with a dramatic acoustic section. "Heavy Water" features Hendrix-style blues with a rock groove. The middle three songs have very atmospheric textures and unusual acoustic playing. A couple of more experimental moments don't work as well, for instance in the middle of the CD there is about 40 seconds of sound effects of planes taking off. Overall, "Octoglomerate" is a CD that will appeal to fans of neoclassical playing and to fans of the great European guitarists of the late '70s and early '80s.

Review by John Nicholas