Simonz, Kelly - Sign Of The Times

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Lion Music
Catalog Number: LMC 2208 2
Format: CD
Total Time: 52:40:00

To put it simply, Kelly Simonz is a Japanese neo-classical guitarist and a one-man band - he plays all of the instruments on his disc called Sign of the Times, and is another attempt to put some neo-classical tunes on the map.

Kelly is a great guitarist - if you are into neo-classical style, and with the influx of this type of playing lately, it's hard to tell who it is if you didn't know the rest of the music. Kelly also plays every other instrument on the disc, making him stand out amongst the crowd of other neo-phytes, and his playing of keyboards, drum programming,vocals, and bass is actually something to behold.

The disc is a mix of neo-classical tunes and a mix of Dokken-esque type melodic metal tunes and ballads. The other band that comes to mind that has this approach is Majestic - who also mixes in that hard rock / metal sound amidst a backdrop of neo-classical base, except that Simonz seems to be totally into the neo thing while breaking it up with some Dokken type ballads along the way to keep it interesting I guess......his voice is even close to that of Don Dokken himself......pleasant and mellow.

There isn't much else to say about this disc except that if you are a neo-classical freak, you'll have to have it just because - Kelly is a monster neo player, but other than that, you won't find much else different on this disc than any other neo-classical disc. The production is excellent - and it clocks in at 46:00 [The LM version, w/the bonus tracks, runs a bit longer -ed.

This will be on the trade list very shortly - not because it isn't a good disc, but because it doesn't have any staying power.......

First released in 1998/1999 [as, perhaps, a self-relased title? -ed.].

Tracklisting:
Eternal Flame (4:30) / Still (4:15)* / King Of The Castle (4:51)* / Solitude (2:40) / Blind Faith (6:14) / Sign Of The Times (5:38) / Suite In B Minor BWV1067 (1:53) / Cry For You (4:37) / Serpent In A Paradise (4:39) / Pain (2:41) / Stay In My Heart (6:37) / Blind Faith (Live)* (6:45)
*European bonus tracks

Musicians:
Kelly Simonz - guitar, et al

Discography:
Sign Of The Times (1998/2002)
Silent Scream (1999/2002)
The Rule Of Right (2002/2003)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin JP

Added: September 1st 1999
Reviewer: Larry "LarryD" Daglieri

Artist website: www.kellysimonz.com
Hits: 2015
Language: english