Ghoulish makeup aside, {|John Lowery|}, aka {|John 5|}, is the type of guitar player who really doesn't need gimmicks. No doubt about it, the boy can play. Coming off his {|Hellbilly Deluxe 2|} record with {|Rob Zombie|}, he returned to the studio wi... Read more

Ghoulish makeup aside, {|John Lowery|}, aka {|John 5|}, is the type of guitar player who really doesn't need gimmicks. No doubt about it, the boy can play. Coming off his {|Hellbilly Deluxe 2|} record with {|Rob Zombie|}, he returned to the studio with {|Chris Baseford|} to make his {|Requiem|} follow-up and his fifth solo release, {|The Art of Malice|}. Like his last outing, the album is a showy clinic that demonstrates his speed and versatility on his signature Telecasters (his favorite being a custom 1964), and it would be nearly impossible to find someone faster. His picking is so rapid that it sounds like he has a plectrum glued on a drill bit. {|Ya Dig?|} is a tribute to {|Van Halen|}, named for something {|Diamond Dave|} would say while {|John 5|} was in the {|DLR|} ranks (and featuring {|Eat 'Em and Smile|} bassist {|Billy Sheehan|} thumping away); {|Portrayed as Unremorseful|} apes {|Jimmy Page|} with a snippet of {|Zep|}'s {|Heartbreaker|} solo played over chords from {|Rock and Roll|}; and {|Fractured Mirror|} is a cover of a song by the man who inspired him to pick up a guitar and paint his face, {|Ace Frehley|}. Along with the blistering rockers, the acoustic {|The Last Page Turned,|} the slide-based {|Can I Live Again,|} and the incredible chicken pickin' of {|J.W.|} demonstrate his range nicely. ~ Jason Lymangrover Less