MCM - Ritual Factory

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Lion Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 56:40:00

MCM stands for Alex Masi, Randy Coven (Vai, Mailmsteen, Brian Setzer) and John Macaluso (TNT, Malmsteen, Riot), respective on guitar, bass and drums. These guys came together, all with a different background and to play in Mexico City. There they jammed together and it felt good, so they performed there, as a trio and it felt really good, so they decided to record an album, which is now released under the title Ritual Factory.

Three very talented musicians together is good for almost an hour of high quality music. All arrangements are close to perfect and it is as if they have been playing together for ages, instead of living 3000 miles apart. The music ranges from jazzrock/fusion, to experimental rock. Amazing guitar solos are flying around, the drums are wild, but never off track and the bass forms the foundation, always in sync with the drums.

Nothing bad to say about the quality of the music, it is good, way above average. So all it comes down to is a matter of taste. It's an instrumental album, albeit one of the better kind. And the main sound is fairly jazz/fusion orientated. I have noticed in the past months many prog labels have released albums that would be more fitting for a jazz label. In my opinion, MCM would be done more justice in a jazz review, than a progressive rock review.

Conclusion: it's a good album, played by three amazing musicians. However, I feel it does not fit entirely in the prog corner. So I leave it there and you judge for yourself.

[This review originally appeared August 2004 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Ritual Factory / The Whole Life / Sadhu's Jewel / Ghost In My House / Dream Of Little Ground Fire / Brozo / Dead Monkey Road / Black Market / Ray-Gun / Landings / Red Quantum

Musicians:
Alex Masi ? guitars
Randy Coven ? bass
John Macaluso ? drums

Discography:
Ritual Factory (2004)

Genre: Fusion-Jazz Fusion

Origin VA

Added: November 28th 2004
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.alexmasi.com
Hits: 1865
Language: english