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Review by Virtuosity One The Dawn Of Time After the previous 78 minute one track effort of the hard to get into ‘Step Into The Future’, world acclaimed guitar virtuoso George Bellas has seen fit to make things more accessible this time giving us 19 tracks for our 79 minutes of listening time. Obviously George is not short of material or inspiration, with the music proving that he is in the most inspired shape of his career as this is an absolute cracker from start to finish. That said as Bellas has handled everything on this album himself with the exception of drums coming from Marco Minnemann he proves he is also a master of bass and keyboards also. Seeing fit to deliver an album consisting of elements from across his career means forays into neo-classical tinted explorations as well as highly progressive skilled compositions gives us the best of both worlds for anyone with a passing interest in George’s career which began on Shrapnel Records in the mid 90’s. Not only has Bellas looked over his career but also strived to improve things sonically too and this album is a beautiful work of art not only in composition but also production. Shunning the current trend to overload an CD with volume ‘The Dawn Of Time’ is a god send for lovers of dynamics (even if it means you have to reach to turn your volume control/slider up) with Bellas virtually eschewing compressors for the albums creation. The album has a wonderful sense of space and breathes beautifully, to top it off Bellas tone has been captured so purely tone fanatics will be drooling over this. Highlights of the album come in almost every track from the simplistic (by Bellas standards) opener ‘Cyclone’ which will draw you in with its neo-classical feel, before the more progressive time signatures of ‘Seeding The Universe’ makes you wonder how George does it. The neo-classical edge comes back with the glorious ‘Let There Be Light’ which is home to an absolute scorcher of a solo with tone to die for, rich in harmonics yet not overloaded with gain, the sound really shows that its all in the fingers and Bellas makes the string moan, cry and scream big time here. The title track is home to advanced time signatures which Bellas manages to make sound easier than the average 4/4 before the stripped down almost easy approach of ‘Machine Man’ with its deep bass guitar sound (again tone to die for folks) and Hammond organ make a fine backdrop for Bellas to work his guitar magic over with some eastern tonalities and some Zeppelin style orchestrations. ‘Voyage To Triangulum’ is a slow minor blues progression allowing George to get all emotional on us and the result is pure beauty. ‘Mysterious Light’ is one of the most experimental tracks on the album being mostly orchestral with space age fx, before the Bach n roll of ‘Mystical Dream’ will please fans of Malmsteen/Uli Roth etc, again the solo section is pure aural ecstasy for lovers of guitar. ‘Glimmering Stardust’ is another absolute highlight building throughout its journey where again the bass guitar and drums of Marco Minnemann (Paul Gilbert) are a joy to behold building with piano flurries. The solo that begins at 2:09 is so emotionally charged it brought a lump to my throat such is the soul on offer here. This coupled with the lone guitar over soft chordal backings really showcases how well Bellas has captured his new found tone and again the result is nothing short of stunning. ‘Electromagnetic’ has an almost 70’s rock vibe ala Focus to it with its pulsating rhythm and Hammond organ, it’s an easy track to digest too and a nice fusion of styles. ‘Genesis Of Life’ harks back to the progressive territories explored on his ‘Planterary Alignment’ album with some nice synth work whilst ‘Carbon Creature’ is dark, with a fine sense of impending doom about it allowing Bellas to deliver some lush classical sounding melodies. The joyful light and air of ‘Suns Of Andromeda’ is a nice contrast to its predecessor and wouldn’t be out of place on an Uli Jon Roth album. Trumpet fanfares introduce ‘We Are Not Alone’ which has an Uli vibe about it also thanks to its beautifully worked vibrato and stunning note choice. ‘Nightmare Awoken’ is the heaviest track on offer in terms of rhythm guitar with a riff that sounds like vintage Malmsteen yet Yngwie would never be this bold when it comes to the lead guitar patterns which sees Bellas maintaining a neo-classical edge yet eschewing all the stock motifs made famous by Yngwie. ‘Primordial Atom’ is like Mozart on steroids and here Bellas is really smoking tempo wise in his lead work. ‘Metropolis’ then takes a radical change of direction being built around a groovy bass line which leads into a nice new sound that adds another string to Bellas’ armoury. The delicate major tonality and laid back tempo of ‘Always At My Side’ yields more fine melodies and a sense of calm before the progressive and heavily orchestrated closer ‘The Angels Are Calling’ sees the album out. I have written a lot about the music on offer on ‘The Dawn Of Time’ the music on offer is worthy of much more and its been a sheer delight listening to this album numerous times in run up to the review. With ‘The Dawn Of Time’ George Bellas has delivered his magnum opus and this is a stunning all round release. Yes there is a lot to absorb, but there is also enough here to draw you in on first listen and from then you will be hooked. George Bellas has proven himself to be the guitar virtuoso of 2010 and despite living in a different time and playing in a different genre deserves to be remembered as we do now with the likes of Mozart, Bach, Lennon and McCartney. This is timeless music of undisputed quality making it definitive George Bellas. Hot Spots: Pretty much the whole damn thing. Read the full review at: |
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Review by Scott Jessup The Dawn Of Time The Dawn Of Time has further finely composed instrumentals from ace guitarist George Bellas, and George has again teamed up with drummer extraordinaire Marco Minnemann for this release. Anyone who has ever experienced Marco's playing before will know what an incredible talent he is, and here once more his drumming is at a level that many may only ever dream of reaching. So this dynamic duo is back with more first rate performances, as they do their part in keeping top notch instrumental music alive and in great shape. I should also mention that George plays both the keyboards and bass on this recording. Some will find The Dawn Of Time easier to digest than his previous release Step Into The Future, as this time instead of one vast song George has actually recorded nineteen assorted tracks for this his latest work, also making The Dawn Of Time a great value release. Credit to George's composing skills as this CD doesn't get dragged down by its duration at eighty minutes due to so much material. Everything is as it should be on The Dawn Of Time for such a recording and the performances sound crystal clear. There are many influences displayed throughout this release, which includes performances of neo-classical and progressive music with different levels of complexity. George even gets his bass groove on for the very cool "Machine Man" but of course there is more than a catchy bass line once the keyboards and guitar kicks in. George Bellas' The Dawn Of Time is sure to be a welcome release by anyone who appreciates skillfully performed music from two master musicians, which is both diverse and imaginative. Read the full review at: Review by Craig Hartranft The Dawn Of Time Guitar aficionados and fiends will love the new release from George Bellas, The Dawn of Time. For others, after the 75 minute one song epic Step into the Future, this work may come as welcome return to more familiar and accessible territory. Using a canvas of shorter tonal compositions and the creation of the universe as his inspiration, Bellas again mesmerizes us with his brilliant bag of guitar tricks. Virtuosity is a word not wasted on this fret wizard. With 19 songs within, Bellas packs more music into The Dawn of Time than seems humanly possible, like a 21st century Todd Rundgren seeing how much cleverness he can stuff in his vinyl grooves. While Bellas is immensely inspiring throughout, the songs and his guitar work keep the listener hooked and listening. A raw and sometimes missing ingredient from some guitar hero works, Bellas' work turns on creativity and accessibility rather than alienation from the weight of his skill. Yet, I still can't help to think that Bellas, among other independent axe players, isn't just playing for the choir, his fellow musicians. Others may listen, smile, scratch their heads in amazement, and than simply set aside The Dawn of Time after one listen. It deserves more than that, but this seems to be the inherent nature and result for many instrumental works from guitar virtuosos. Read the full review at: |
Review by Chris Galea The Dawn Of Time George Bellas can hardly be called a novice when it comes to recording albums dense with displays of neo-classical virtuosism. This is, after all, the same person who layed down the guitar tracks on that instrumental masterpiece that was Vitalij Kuprij’s “Extreme Measures”. Sure enough, in “The Dawn of Time” George Bellas offers his latest set of Neo-Classical and Progressive compositions - if one had to make comparisons the latter genre, Liquid Tension Experiment might be a name that’ll crop up. The tracks we have here seem to be united by an ethereal and creationist concept. As a whole the album lasts just under 80 minutes and with the compositions being short and numerous it occasionally does feel long. I also thought that the keyboards tended to be over simplistic in relation to the rest of the music. With instrumental guitar albums, it’s a common trait that the drum sounds actually come out of a drum machine. Happily in this case Mr Bellas used the services of a ‘carnal’ drummer – not only that, but Marco Minnemann sounds both sharp and agile in his percussive interpretations of Mr Bellas’ compositions. By and large the music in “The Dawn of Time” is stunning and certainly delivers to its expectations. Possible highlights include ‘Voyage To Triangulum’ due to its excellent balance of technique and bluesy emotion. Apart from the ultra-fast legato picking there are also several quiet, introspective-of-sorts moods sprinkled throughout the album. As mentioned, the music is excellent but ‘Electromagnetic’ in particular should leave Malmsteen fans salivating for more. In an ideal world almost all guitarists would play like George Bellas in “The Dawn of Time”. Read the full review at: |
Review by Tommy Hash Step Into The Future One song – one track, no division, meant to be heard in it’s entirety – ambitious you say; well for axeman George Bellas it comes as no surprise that he can undertake this type of musical endeavor and execute it well. The stuff that he does with the six strings is nearly impossible – as if his last record (Planetary Alignment) exposed just how far he could go; well ladies and gentlemen, he takes it a step further with this seventy-five minute opus. So with this, we don’t have to discuss different pieces of music or songs for that matter; “Step Into the Future” consists of jazzed out frenzies, darkened pastures, neo-classical overtones, staccatos, shredding… and it never gets self indulgent - the music follows fluid melodies instead of being too spaced out and wild; just when there are parts that might be going a little crazy, Bellas brings it all back to earth, you are continuously drawn into this music rather than being bored or saying “ok, that’s enough of that.” Like the Mahavishnu Orchestra jamming with Dream Theater, Step Into the Future is a prime example of prog/metal/fusion gone wild, but yet kept at bay at the same time – it exposes not only Bellas’ abilities as one of the most innovative axemen, but also one who can clearly communicate with his instrument in way that so few shredders know how to; he knows how to make speed work to make it sound appealing to the ears instead of just playing lightning speed arpeggios for the sake of being technical. It’s only January and one the first contenders for instrumental guitar album of the year has already arrived. Read the full review at: |
Review by Neal Woodall Planetary Alignment "Maestro George Bellas departs from the neoclassical excursions he is best known for on his latest release PLANETARY ALIGNMENT, a mind-boggling exercise in advanced musical concepts that simultaneously frustrates and inspires. Bellas is scary good, with a comprehensive knowledge of music theory making him a veritable human compendium of obscure chords, scales and rhythmic ideas, and on PLANETARY ALIGNMENT he introduces the listener to a startling array of them. Check out the drama of "New Worlds Discovered," the creatively explosive "Parallel Universe," the space trip-out "Gravitons," or the intense "Supersymmetry" for samples of George's prowess. PLANETARY ALIGNMENT is not an easy listen, nor is it supposed to be, which makes the album rather difficult to rate conventionally; often what George is playing is going to sound just plain weird, even to those accustomed to modern shred technique, so I'm sure much of this is destined to go right over the heads of most casual listeners. With that said, full marks for the musicianship, which is quite breathtaking, not only the complex arrangements and intricate guitar techniques but also the amazing drumming of Marco Minneman, who really had his work cut out for him performing the odd meters and polyryhthms found throughout the album. At the end of the day, PLANETARY ALIGNMENT is a truly progressive work in that it breaks new ground and takes the shred template to different places, but it will require repeated, focused listens to fully appreciate. A very interesting, if not fully accessible, work of art..." Read the full review at: http://www.myspace.com/detritusezine Review by Al Hey Planetary Alignment "The point that I’m trying to make here is that, with the release of “Planetary Alignment”, George Bellas has to be seen as one of the virtuoso guitarist/composer’s of his generation. The music on this release isn’t just melodic rock soloing over rock steady drumming and standard rhythms, it’s exactly the opposite and, as a result, is a totally refreshing listen. Even to my ears that like their regular dose of Satriani style playing there comes a moment when you wish someone would just be brave enough to take all those techniques they have learnt and mould it into something different. For many that would mean leaving the comfort zone and doing something that might see them fall flat on their fret boards. To be honest the ability to do that would also involve someone who is harmonically trained, someone who knows the rules and is therefore aware how to break them, that’s how music moves forward..." Read the full review at: http://www.hardrockhouse.com/NewReleases/GeorgeBellas.htm Review by MJ Brady Planetary Alignment "It appears that guitarist George Bellas is determined to keep the electric guitar virtuoso scene alive, his last few releases have seen a steady pushing of the envelope and setting new personal standards for not only his performing skills, but an elevated standard in sophistication for compositions as well. This latest release - Planetary Alignment sees Bellas taking his compositional direction into the most progressive standards I have heard him do, while his last project - Palace Terrace offered a nice take on Neo-Classical progressive metal, what he has done with this cd is much more..." Read the full review at: http://www.proggnosis.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=26021 Review by George Fustos Planetary Alignment "It is without a doubt, almost a certainty, that one needs to listen to and explore the musical aspects and content of this new release many times over before one can appreciate it for what it is -- a masterpiece of individual and complex pieces of art (in the truest sense of the word). Only then will Planetary Alignment come into focus and let your mind explore the treasures found within it. This album is not for the faint of heart or the musical listener who likes to rush through an album without actually taking the time to let it speak for itself. For those who truly love the guitar sound and really appreciate virtuosos who really are just that, this is a must buy. If you aren’t in that category, you might want to listen to a friend’s copy first to see if is right for you..." Read the full review at: http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.php?main=reviews&id=2529 Review by Joe Florez Planetary Alignment "This has to be the hardest working guitarist on the planet (pun intended). Just under a year ago, he released his project Palace Terrace. Now, he’s back with a new solo offering. I have heard this man perform on many artists records as well as his own and I have to say that he has managed to outshine himself here as he has gone out to create a record that simply makes you say…WOW! I must admit that the whole neo-prog metal scene is getting quite boring now and even as much as I love Yngwie, his music is even redundant after a while. So, what must be done to keep things fresh or try to put a different spin on the scenario? Simply add attitude and intensity while you are sincere at the same time..." Read the full review at: http://www.live4metal.com/reviews-595.htm Review by Virtuosity One Planetary Alignment "Whilst “Planetary Alignment” may not be as immediately “understood” as other instrumental releases reviewed this month (Marco Sfogli, Paul Gilbert) don’t let that put you off as George is more unique and definitely has his own sound going. Granted you can hear a little Uli Jon Roth and at times Brian May in here, but Bellas has carved out a sound, technique and method of writing that is so unique is impossible for it to not attract your attention. Just be prepared to sit down with this album and absorb it over numerous spins. The epic 8 minute opener “Colour By Numbers” kicks the album off in a very progressive manner and from here on it George introduced other themes, subtleties and ideas throughout the rest of the album..." Read the full review at: http://www.virtuosityone.com/reviewroundup0308.htm Review by Dawn of the Shred Planetary Alignment
His technique is flawless, his tone is perfect, and his accompanying band stays right on his heels. His music is super technical, with more odd-time signature exchanges in the first three songs than in most bands’ careers. And with leadwork that leans towards the exotic (theory buffs can try and follow the variety of atypical modes and scales he utilizes) and unbelievably good keyboard mingling with the guitar lines, the prospective listener can best compare this album with either of the Liquid Tension Experiment albums. The theme here is science and metaphysics: established by the song titles and reinforced by the spacey atmosphere created from the keyboards and bizarre guitarwork (Ron Jarzombek would approve, I think). And with the drums and bass being just as expertly performed (and at times just as amazingly technical), Planetary Alignment is a music junkie’s wet dream. Read the full review at: http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=183160 Review by Joe Florez Flying Through Infinity This is the latest project from guitar virtuoso George Bellas. Only those in the know will realize that he’s a man that gets around because he’s been in numerous bands. Those who may have not heard of the man should know that he is an accomplished guitar virtuoso who’s in high demand. In addition to showcasing his talents in his solo works, he’s managed to throwdown his great licks for the likes of John West (Artension, ex-Royal Hunt), Ring Of Fire and others. I think the man is talented beyond belief, but I have never quite gotten him as there is something missing in my eyes. Hopefully this record will change all that. “The Tenth Dimension” is a long and epic opener. Clocking in at a whopping nine and a half minutes, you would think that this would be on fire in order to get your attention. Instead, this is a mid pacer that is written quite uniquely. The elements are there to be a power/prog fest filled with shreds and high pitch screams. Instead, we have this singer who sings professionally as a classical vocalist. It’s clean and he never gets overly excited with his lung work. It’s always in control. George’s riffs definitely have the feeling to go off, but it’s pretty much relaxed and all in check. He does a little showboating, but doesn’t charter into the Yngwie territory. The drums also have the capability to go off the wall, but don’t. This is more or less a neo-classical, progressive rock song more so than metal. The keyboards add a touch of pizzazz that actually keep you awake. There are some great harmonious background vocals utilized here as well. It’s a good composition, but I was expecting a little more oomph in this one as opposed to sounding more classical a combo of neo-classical power prog metal. Yes! “Chaos Theory” is what I was expecting when I pushed play at first. The shred action is here, the tempo is kicked up ten fold. The double bass drumming is quick and tight while the fingers on the keys just flail all over the place and Jon’s signing is slightly higher, but he has more energy than before. Jesus Christ! There is a solo on here where everyone absolutely goes off at such a high rate of speed that “Flight Of The Bumblebee” comes to mind. I like it and the fans will too! By the time this record was finished, I was satisfied with the end product. The thing is that you have to be patient with it. You aren’t going to get the usual elements that are associated with a Rhapsody Of Fire, Primal Fear, Yngwie and the like. Well, at least not right away. You have to wait for them. This is an epic storytelling concept record that requires patience, but in the end you will be happy with this as well. The songs are written and performed in such a way that it’s not about any of the musicians involved. It’s about the music and it’s all composed and performed in a classy way that it’s not being overshadowed by spotlight hogs. This is an intelligently written record that George has to be congratulated on. He has gone through the trouble to make a record that isn’t like everything else on the market. I believe that he wants you to sit with this and try to grasp it whether it takes one listen or many. In the end, if you appreciate music from all walks of life then you will digest this with no problem. A wonderful journey awaits your ears if you are willing to put the time into this. Read the full review at: http://www.live4metal.com/reviews-555.htm Review by Christopher Ruel Venomous Fingers
Ordained "Master of Neoclassical Guitar of the 2000's" by his peers, George Bellas has released his best and most impressive solo effort to date in 2003 with his latest album, Venomous Fingers. Bellas has produced an amazing collection of intensive, instrumental tracks that feature his masterful guitar work, as well as some surprisingly good keyboards and drums that are played (or sequenced, as the case may be) by Bellas as well. The surprises do not end there, however. Bellas reaches new heights on this album with his compositional depth and musical quality that rival his efforts with Kuprij on Extreme Measures. But the musical delight does not end there either, as Bellas also delves into some very tactful outside tonality to achieve the unique musical atmosphere that he has created on this awesome collection of guitar-centric, strictly instrumental compositions. Read the full review at: Review by Swordfisch Venomous Fingers
I really don't understand why George Bellas doesn't seem to appeal to more metalheads. Have many even heard of this guy? And if so, have you actually heard any of his music? If not, you're missing something really special. Read the full review at: http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=42214#114574 Review by Endre "Bandi" Hübner, Venomous Fingers
The world of instrumental (guitar) music is a small one. Last week I reviewed Tom Hess' Opus 2 and this week it's his ex- teacher George Bellas here. Though George's name may also be known for his teaching or for his music educational softwares, I think it's best known for his work with keyboard virtuoso Vitalij Kuprij in Ring of Fire or for his participation in another progressive rock project Magellan. UFO fans may also remember him playing in the UFO side-project Moggway. This time it's a solo record and the music is exactly what's you'd expect from Bellas: progressive instrumental rock music with classical touches. Read the full review at: http://www.rockunited.com/reviews2004_1_5.htm Venomous Fingers George Bellas is the name of an excellent guitarplayer that already recorded his first solo album (Turn of the Millennium) way back in 1996 on Shrapnel Records (Mike Varney). Shortly after signing to Shrapnel Records, George also joined UFO that was called MOGGWAY that days because of un-resolvable reasons/problems. George also recorded albums with: John West, Audiodrome, Ring of Fire, Magellan and lots more..... Read the full review at: http://www.hardlifepromotion.nl/ Venomous Fingers George Bellas returns with "Venomous Fingers", his 3rd solo release and his 1st for Lion Music. Following stints with Artension, Mogg/Way and Ring Of Fire, Bellas displays his love for classical music and incorporates shred metal with enough refinement and feel to make this release truly enjoyable. There is a certain cosmic feel to the appropriately titled "Journey To The Stars". This particular track reminds me of keyboardist Jean-Michel Jarre's "Rendez-Vous" release from the mid 1980's. (An instrumental masterpiece). Read the full review at: http://www.1heavymetal.com/CDReviews/December2003/georgebellas.htm Venomous Fingers We definitely feature alot of bands from Finnish labels. I am fortunate enough to be taken care of well by the labels from one of metal's best scenes overseas. George Bellas releases his latest album 'Venomous Fingers' via Lion Music. The title of the album gives you a visual of what to expect from this album. In a nutshell, this guy is a wizard on the guitar. This album may not appeal to a mainstream crowd due to its instrumental nature, but musicians will definitely appreciate Bellas' technique. Compositions are technical with alot of flash and emphasis on the guitarwork naturally. Bellas is extremely fast and makes my fingers ache just listening to him. So how is the music overall you might ask? It's good too. Maybe a little to hard for some to understand, but George really paints a vison on some of these tracks such as the 2 part 'Symphonia' and the frantic nature of the appropriately titled 'Adrenalin Rush'. Bellas handles all guitar, keyboards, and Bass and I believe was involved in the drum work as well although not credited. This album is of high quality and see's Bellas showing why he has the respect he does. Read the full review at: http://rockindude.homestead.com/reviews209.html Review by John Kindred Venomous Fingers
George Bellas third solo CD release amply titled “Venomous Fingers,” is a tour deforce of neoclassical and progressice guitar shredding. Having played and recorded with the likes of Mogg/Way, Magellan, Ring of Fire, Vitalij Kuprij and John West, George has built a reputation as a solid guitar player. His long list of influences include J.S.Bach, L.V.Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Paganini, Debussey, Walter Piston, Ted Greene, Robin Trower, Montrose, Van Halen, Michael Schenker, Dream Theater, Magellan, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine and Jason Becker. Read the full review at: http://www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews/cdreviews/venomousfingers.php Venomous Fingers I have to confess that on the first run through of George Bellas' Venomous Fingers, things did not bode well for this review. However after much perserverance I can reveal that this album was certainly worth the effort. Steeped in the Neo-Classical ProgMetal market, George Bellas offers up many enthralling guitar instrumentals. My initially dismissive thoughts probably came from a lack of any real analysis of the tracks and a great deal of bias. Merely lumping this album within a category I confess not to listen to in any great depth. And at the end of the day, much great music is dimissed merely by a closed mind. You just have to look at the general view of Prog to know this! Read the full review at: http://www.lionmusic.com/Reviews/reviewsBellas.htm Venomous Fingers George Bellas is a neo-classical guitar player and mostly sells educational CD-ROMs on his website. He released already two instrumental albums on Shrapnel Records, played guitar on CDs of other artists and just released his new instrumental work Venomous Fingers. To make a long story short, this is only aimed at those who are interested in the techniques. Bellas is a gifted musician, but if you made me listen to him beside, for instance, Vinnie Moore and Yngwie Malmsteen, I couldn't say who plays what. Come on, wanna-be pro guitar players, shake your heads about my ignorance, but then you wouldn't be able to name the main differences of the three classical strands of science fiction as depicted by Clarke, Asimov and Heinlein. Read the full review at: http://www.disagreement.net/reviews/georgebellas_venomousfingers.html Venomous Fingers To me, it is been a quite long time since I checked out George Bellas' music for the first time. His first album, "Turn of New Millenium" released from Shrapnel Records was a kind of new neo-classical/prog metal sensation for me. After several years went by, now I got his brand-new cd, "Venomous Fingers". This albums' title seem to sum up what George Bellas has been striving for. Surprisingly, this is recorded and performed by almost George himself. However, it sounds quite full and really energetic neo-classical burning instrumental. Astonishingly, this album contains all 15 instrumental tracks. George Bellas puts his soul and energy into his neo-classical metal music from the beginning. Since he released his solo album, I have heard that he also had been helping out for his Shrapnel label mates like Vitalij Kuprij and Mogg/Way along his solo projects. I assume that the reason why he released a new album from Lion Music is that he had already left Shrapnel Records, due to his decision. Anyway, Venomous Fingers feature the music that die-hard neo-classical prog power metal fans would love to . Of course, the epicenter of his music is shred and fast guitar performance of George Bellas. Astonishingly, very fast fingerings and picking are all over the place. At the same time, he arranged uniquely odd-times and frequent tempo changes with orchestrated keyboard sounds. Basically, Venomous Fingers would be a continuation of what he had done on Turn of New Millenium, but more solid and controled. If other guest musicians helped out for this album, Venomous Fingers would sound much different. Nevertheless, George handled everything in detail to keep neo-classical flavored metal music alive and burning enough. Venomous Fingers is a must item for shred guitar fans who also love odd-times and tempo changed with keyboard orchestration. Read the full review at: http://www.hamanaka.com/pilgrim2/progmetal/bpage.htm Review by Jason Ritchie Venomous Fingers
Guitarist George Bellas has had a series of solo albums since the mid-90's and also appeared on the Mogg/Way albums. He has a fast neo-classical style, which may not to everyone's tastes as guitarists' albums are an acquired taste. It certainly has its moments like the whirlwind soloing on 'Adrenalin Rush' with some nifty keyboards added by George as well. 'Lightspeed' is possibly the fastest soloing I've heard on an album and again its rounded out with keys. Lovely piece of classical music on 'Forever' that breaks the album up nicely and the same goes for 'Mayhem' with I assume programmed vocals as no vocalist is credited on the inlay sleeve. Read the full review at: http://www.getreadytorock.com/reviews/george_bellas.htm Review by Jedd Beaudoin
Faster than many and more melodic than many who are fast, George Bellas gives a taste of neoclassical ecstasy with tracks such as “Journey To The Stars,” “Above and Beyond” and especially “Forever.” (His “Symphonia I” and “Symphonia II” may best get at what he’s all about.) Unlike some gents who occupy the same space in the firmament of rock guitar players Bellas does his best not to let chops eclipse songwriting. That said, there are one or two tracks that here that don’t make it around the bend to classic status, although there’s nothing that should keep you away from Bellas forever. Read the full review at: http://www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=456 Venomous Fingers
I have always loved George's work from back in the days I first heard of him on Shrapnel Records back in '98 with "Mind Over Matter" and "Extreme Measures" with Vitalij Kuprij after that. George is an amazing Neo-Classical shredder in the likes of Malmsteen but not as clonish as maybe Joe Stump. Just alot of Classical influence and "Venomous Fingers" actually shows George doing everything himself this time around as far as music and all the compositioning. He did a very splendid job and is reminiscent of alot of work that MacAlpine and Vitalij Kuprij do in a sense; ironically, all these people have worked with one another on one occasion or so. Read the full review at: http://community-2.webtv.net/fretsaxesriffs/FAROUT/ Venomous Fingers lved in the first excellent Mogg/Way release and also handled all guitar parts (as well as composition) on the impressive second Ring Of Fire album 'The Oracle'. He has also done time with Royal Hunt / Artension vocalist John West so he is no stranger to working in a band environment. Read the full review at: http://www.virtuosityone.com/bellasvenomous.htm Venomous Fingers First I have to admit I hate these kind of albums. Just solos all and everywhere, often played in high speed without feeling. Read the full review at: http://user.tninet.se/~gyc835t/Recmonth3.htm Review by Dragonflame 713 Venomous Fingers
Venomous Fingers is the title of the first release on the Lion Music label for George Bellas. Prior to this, George has quite a formidable résumé to his musical credit. In addition to his solo career with Shrapnel Records which featured the albums Turn Of The Millennium (1997) and Mind Over Matter (1998) , he has played in Ring Of Fire (former Malmsteen vocalist Mark Boal’s band, which also featured keyboardist virtuoso Vitalij Kuprij), contributed to playing and writing for an album by current Royal Hunt vocalist John West, playing on Magellan’s Hundred Year Flood and also was to be the guitarist for UFO (which unfortunately couldn’t use the name due to legal reasons, so they went under Mogg/Way) He also has a vocal band called Audiodrome. On top of all of this, he has been developing musical software entitled Maestro. His guitar style is firmly rooted in the neoclassical styling, and this is in ample evidence on this recording. Read the full review at: http://www.progressiveears.com/asp/reviews.asp?albumID=2471&bhcp=1 Venomous Fingers Legendary US Guitarist releases neoclassical masterpiece. George Bellas is known from band such a Ring of Fire and Mogg/Way (ex UFO). On Venomous Fingers, George has finally been able to develop his own compositions into a neoclassical masterpiece. Read the full review at: http://www.fusion3.com/works/lmc083/ Venomous Fingers Jag har länge sett Yngwie Malmsteen som en av de snabbaste gitarristerna någonsin, men jag börjar efter att ha hört denna platta tveka starkt på min tidigare ståndpunkt. George Bellas är killen som fått blodiga fingrar efter att ha nött skalor in absurdum sedan sju års ålder. Vi är nu framme vid år 2003, och han har förutom hunnit jobba som lärare på ”Prodigy’s school of music” (som tonåring) och gett ut en rad olika instruktionsvideos och musikprogram till datorn, även jobbat ihop med band som Ring of fire och John West. Utöver detta har han givetvis också gett ut ett par soloplattor innan denna, Venomous fingers, skivan där herren sköter alla instrument själv utom trummor. Read the full review at: http://www.metalheart.se/asp/recension.asp?ID=974 Venomous Fingers For lovers of ultra fast guitars played with amazing musicianship George Bellas is like a constant orgasm. Here we have a guy with a really good guitar sound that reminds me of a mix of Yngwie Malmsteen, Greg Howe and Tony Macalpine. Here is a virtuoso that is not afraid of showing his chops and shred you to pieces through fifteen tracks that are contained on this album. Bellas also plays keyboards and bass on this album embelishing with multiple arrangements and chord progressions each of the tracks. There is a lot of neoclassical metal in the music and also a lot of fusion in many of the guitar lines. Bellas delivers each compositions with a majestic feeling showing at each moment how well he plays his guitar and also his skills as a composer. There are some female vocals in some parts embellishing with melodies some parts that need a majestic atmosphere. I recommend this album to any music lover that likes great musicianship and good arrangements. Read the full review at: http://www.musicextreme.com/index2.htm Review by Alberto Trentanni Venomous Fingers Chiariamolo subito: questo disco è inutile. Read the full review at: http://www.hmportal.it/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2250 This soulful and intelligent virtuoso is one of the most respected and talked about guitarists around. Sporting a very clean and very fast technique, his music features a lot of odd meters, incredible playing that serves the songs very well and excellent production values. George also teaches guitar and sells his own guitar related software. Check out the videos of his playing on his site, especially the very nice "slow blues". You can learn more about George Bellas at GeorgeBellas.com. Read the full review at: http://www.guitarist.info/bellas.htm Mind Over Matter Mind Over Matter is George Bellas' second Shrapnel release, and finds the guitarist perfecting his neo-classical approach, while evoking shades of Jason Becker in places. Bellas’ latest effort leads the way for a new breed of neo-classical guitar players. With a solid resume and exceptional skill as a guitarist, George Bellas will amaze even the most accomplished musician. When listening to Mind Over Matter, be prepared for an aural assault as Bellas shows why this shred monster is considered one of the fastest players around. Instrumental Guitar (Electric (Heavy)/Neo-Classical Metal/Shred), total running time, 71:50 Read the full review at: http://www.guitar9.com/mindovermatter.html Holy Shit! Venomous Fingers is the greatest guitar CD of all time!! It is
so deep and there is so much more to the music than only guitar (unlike a
lot of other guitar CDs). I truly believe (without exaggeration or bias)
your new CD to be one of the greatest treasures of the Human Race! 2,000
years from now this music will endure! Venomous Fingers surpassed my wildest expectations your playing is so incredibly fluid that it defies explanation!! I was so impressed by every single tune on the album. The level of playing surpasses anything out there at the moment I cant think of any player that can possibly play as well as you. The vibrato, picking technique sweeping picking pedal point arrangement, composition everything is so strong and well articulated. I am encouraging all my students to purchase Venomous Fingers if they want to hear the best Neoclassical classical guitar playing around. I got George Bellas latest instrumental CD, Planetary Alignment today. All I can say is holy shit! He is in a league of his own. My mentor Tom Hess has said that George is the greatest guitarist of this century. He's 100% correct. The record is loaded with odd time grooves and interesting melodies. It is definitely one of the most prgressive instrumental records I have ever heard. If you like progressive instrumental stuff you will love it. Not recommended for the faint of heart though! Paul Tauterouff http://www.myspace.com/PaulTauterouff George Ray George, Thanks.....its all about the music ! Rick Hulbirt Hi George Ray Hi George, I, Just wanted to tell your new CD gave me a brain aneurysm, I think the sixth finger does exist on your left hand. You're beyond this planet you can not be possibly of this earth or life form. Your sweeps are faster then your scales. I think you were genetically engineered in the lab!!! Carlo Your a six fingered mutant! I just got your cd today George Ive only had a chance to listen to it once, but upon first listen it really is an impressive cd. My hats off to you! I'm sure I will get alot of enjoyment and many more listens out of it. Thanks! George! Sincerely, Hi Maestro, I've bought your Venomous finger CD 2 days ago....supreme!!! Absolutely cool! there are some great phrases in there. Surely one of my favorite top 10 albums. take care FAb Hi My Friend, Overall, a excellent album which in my opinion really stands out from all the other intrumental guitar releases today. I know something unike was going to come from you when it was finaly released and I was right. Regards Jarle H. Olsen Congratulations for your new album "venomous fingers" this is amazing!!!
I love your neoclassical vision!!! but your old stuff (2 previous cd) is very dificult to buy in europe!! HELLO, MAESTRO, HAIL! I AM A HEAVY METAL FAN AND YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE GUITAR PLAYERS!I HAVE AND ADORE ALL OF YOUR WORKS!THE LAST ONES,VENOMOUS FINGERS AND THE ORACLE ARE FANTASTIC! Hello George, Maestro Bellas, Hello George, i want to say to you one simple thing, that your playing is so incredible!!! http://www.francescofareri.com Dear George Bellas. Hey George, Mr. Bellas - Hey George, I just heard your new CD today and it's unbelievable how you can play a guitar. My favorite tune was Mayhem. By the way, I am a huge JS Bach fan too. Always loved harpsichord as well. Congratulations man you're a genius. |
