Released: Sep 8, 2009
Genre: Progressive Metal, Neo-classical Metal
Label: M.A.C.E.
Number Of Tracks: 11
Michael Angelo Batio unleashed another spectacular guitar-driven album, albeit this time with a twist: vocals.
Hands Without Shadows 2 – Voices
Reviewed by:
fullshred, on september 18, 2009 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: September, 2009 - Michael Angelo Batio unleashed another spectacular guitar-driven album, albeit this time with a twist: vocals. This is the first solo album from MAB since forming his label M.A.C.E. Music featuring a vocalist in relatively unknown Warren Dunleavy Jr. But, after listening to "HWS 2" the word "unknown" is likely to be history sooner rather than later. Mr. Dunleavy's voice is like a chameleon in the way he covers songs on "HWS2". Whether he's rumbling like Mustaine on "Symphony Of Destruction" or hitting the ceiling ala' DLR in the Van Halen compilation "EVH" he hits his mark on every track with conviction.
The album also features has another unusual twist. The last song on the 'HWS 2" is a track (the "MAB Forum Shreddathon") compiled of thirteen of his own MAB Forum Members. They laid down their riffs, sent them to fellow MAB Forum Member and writer/mixer/masterer Maxxxwell Carlisle. This was quite an opportunity for MAB's fans to show their chops to the world. And more importantly, quite the gesture on Michael's part offering this first-of-its-kind "fan track". Michael performs all guitars, bass, and keys except the "guest" performances. The drums were laid down by drumming wizard Joe Babiak. Other "guest" artists on "Hands Without Shadows 2 - Voices" include Mark Tremonti and Bill Peck (featured on track #4 "Metallica Rules"), Vinnie Moore and George Bellas (featured on track #6 "Symphony Of Destruction"), and David Shankle (featured on track #9 ("On The Double") is the only original full-length song on the album. The track listing is as follows:
01. Dial In That Frequency
02. Tribute To Dimebag
03. Clapton Is God
04. Metallica Rules
05. EVH
06. Symphony Of Destruction
07. For Jimi: All along The Watchtower
08. Tribute To Randy 2: You Can't Kill Rock and Roll
09. On The Double
10. MAB Forum Shreddathon // 10
Lyrics and Singing: Since this is a "tribute" album with the only three original songs being instrumentals, the lyrics are composed by various other artists. Warren Dunleavy Jr. does not disappointed and listeners are truly in for a treat throughout the album. Check him out. An amazing talent who has surfaced here, courtesy of MAB. // 10
Impression: If you liked "Hands Without Shadows" by Michael Angelo Batio, you'll love this one too. The vocals are a bonus, but the guitar phenom that is MAB is alive and well in "HWS 2". It is highly recommended.
Three-tier madness on track # 2: Crisp, tight acoustic intro; melodic electric overdrive from MAB's guitar; then head-pounding chords. Warren nails "Cowboys From Hell". Although I'm not a fan of Clapton (song #3), I can appreciate what MAB has put together here. It's like Clapton on steroids, but with a smooth coating supplied by great production and vocals. Very tasteful and energizing, kind of like cold orange Gatorade on a 90 degree day. Pedal-notes-galore and then some, and a driving presence throughout by Michael. Metallic Rules! This song rocks hard, and I'm sure he'll have fun playing it live around the world. This is one of those songs where you're going to push the limits of your speakers. Wait until you hear Warren's voice on this! Unbelievable. If you're a Metallic fan you will be blown away. This song features additional killer riffs courtesy of shredder buds Mark Tremonti and Bill Peck. Joe's drums are tight and un wielding. Michael's guitar work on the Metallic medley blows Kirk's away, so sorry. Eddie Van Halen would be proud on song #5 ("EVH"). Now, although I personally think it's hard to mimic DLR, and there have been tons and tons of VH cover bands over the years paying homage to one of the greatest guitar-driven rock bands of all time thinking they can do so, there is certainly reason to listen here. Warren Dunleavy proves his point as a vocalist who can do anything he wants. And MAB can certainly do ANYTHING he wants on guitar. He can play anyone's riffs, anyone's chord progression. Of course, EVH is no exception, except MAB takes it to the next level. No one in the world can play the way MAB play it. Again, all keys on "HWS 2" are courtesy of MAB and he pulls it off flawlessly. The "EVH" compilation (#5) is a cool and welcomed addition to the track listing consisting of "Panama", "Eruption", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Jump", "Unchained", and "Runnin' With The Devil". "Symphony Of Destruction" is a symphonic shredfest with featured notes courtesy of the great Vinnie Moore and George Bellas. Warren sounds great in this track. Really a "no-fear" sound filled with conviction. Michael's lighting bolt fingers sound inhuman here. The one is worth the price of admission. Killer riffs slice and dice your ear canals until they explode. Three cheers for Michael's tribute to Hendrix! "For Jimi: All Along The Watchtower". I love the drumming introduction, and throughout this piece. You can hear the stamina, and Mitch Mitchell would be proud. This was a great choice from the JH catalog and certainly leave you wanting to hear more Hendrix performed by this lineup. Michael twists and turns with tasty takes and ungodly phrasing. The first time I listened to "Tribute to Randy 2: You Can't Kill Rock and Roll (track #8) I got a chill up my spine. This is one of my favorites on "HWS 2". This is MAB's second recorded tribute to the late, great Randy Rhoads, and hopefully not his last. This recording lineup of Batio, Babiak, and Dunveavy could record all Randy's music in one album and I could die a happy man. Warren sounds killer on this song. And as gifted and humble a musician as RR was, I'm sure he would be in awe of MAB's guitar prowess. Long live Randy Rhoads. Track #9 (On The Double) is destined for greatness. This is (unfortunately) MAB's only original on the album and is mind-blowing. If mark 2:43 to 3:03 were a mass murderer, it would be Jack The Ripper. This whole album is pure, unbridled Batio at his finest. Rock on~ fullshred // 10
Hands Without Shadows 2 – Voices
Reviewed by:
RANDUMB!, on january 28, 2010 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: 01. Tribute To Dimebag: this song is a great example of Dunlevy's skill as a singer and Batio's skill as a composer. The song is divided into two parts, the first being an overall good instrumental cover of Cemetery Gates that stays very close to the original. The song then switches into Cowboys from Hell, in which Warren Dunlevy Jr. sounds almost the same as Phil Anselmo, while adding his own style. Although there are a few weak spots in the vocals, they don't take away from the song. The biggest weakness is the end, which is a somewhat repepitive outro. 9/10
02. Clapton Is God: easily my favorite song on the album, but with an unoriginal name.The song starts off with a cover of Layla, which managed to keep the original feeling and emotion of the song with the style of Dunlevy and MAB mixed in. It ends with a metal version of the verse of Sunshine of your Love, followed by the original chorus. The songs largest weakness is when MAB shreds in the song, which does not work very well in a Clapton tribute.Once you get used to the shreds, the song definately does justice to Clapton. 10/10
03. Metallica Rules: yet again, Dunlevy manages to sing another genre of music. The vocals are quite similar to the original, but MAB's guitar style does not quite match the song in the solos. Overall, a great cover, but as all the songs in this tribute are personal favorites of mine, I prefer the originals. Its also too bad he couldn't think of a better name for the song. 7/10
04. EVH: a tribute to Eddie Van Halen where MAB's guitar skills and Dunlevy's vocals shine. The two do a great job of covering Panama, and MAB's guitar style and the use of Eruption in the solos definately do justice to Van Halen's amazing guitar work. The only downsides are that many parts of the song feel cut off, and there seem to be multiple parts where he could have ended the song, but instead added another song to the tribute. 9/10
05. Symphony Of Destruction: one of the weaker song's on the album. Dunlevy mostly imitates Mustaine's voice well, but has some weak spots. In the solo MAB's guitar style and tone don't really fit the song overall. Also, the outro solo further takes away from the song. Overall, the cover is not horrible, but the original version is better. 6/10
06. For Jimi: All ALong the Watchtower: easily the weakest song on the album. The intro solo basically sums up the song. The basics are right but the tone and style are off. A different singer would have suited the song better, as Warren Dunlevy Jr. does not sing Jimi Hendrix well. MAB also did not use Jimi Hendrix style solos at all, and the excessive shredding can not be ignored. The only good part of the tribute is the original song. If you are not a Hendrix fan, then song would probably seem better, but MAB does not do him justice. 3/10
07. Tribute To Randy 2: You Can't Kill Rock And Roll: another one of the strongest songs on the album. Warren Dunlevy Jr.'s voice is perfect for the song, and the solos fit the song well, though MAB would probably have done better if changed his guitar tone some. What separates this most from the original is that you can easily understand the words. 9/10
08. On The Double: the only original song by MAB on the entire album, and he does not disappoint. The intro is very energizing and the rest of the song is just as good. The song has numerous parts, and they all blend together well. The drum riffs help contribute to the feel of the song and the guitar solos are amazing. And the song is not too long, so the fast-paced feel is not over-extended. 10/10
09. MAB Forum Shreddathon: a great idea on MAB's part, and some amazing solos by members of the forum. Its very interesting to hear all of the different guitar styles mixed in to one song, and it helps all of the guitarists who contributed to advertise them. The song is kind of long, though. 8/10 // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Warren Dunlevy Jr. Does a great job in capturing the spirit of the songsa and changing his voice to fit the song. Dunlevy manages to pull off everything from Layla to Cowboys from Hell. Overall, a great singer, but can not sing Hendrix well. There is not anything to write about the lyrics themselves, as this is a tribute album. // 9
Impression: Another amazing tribute album by Michael Angelo Batio, and with singing this time. Warren Dunlevy Jr. Manages to sing almost every song perfectly. This album is just as good, if not better than Hands Without Shadows 1 overall, but has some weak spots.The songs For Jimi and Symphony are the weakest spots on the album, but the rest easily makes up for it. My favorite songs from the album are Clapton is God, EVH and Tribute to Randy 2. Overall, MAB has done a great job paying tribute to great guitarists and bands, epecially with a singer. // 8
After this review I am so excited to hear the new MAB "HWS2" CD. I have had the great pleasure of hearing Warren Dunlevy, Jr. live and he is by far one of the best vocalist out there today! His range is out of this world! Warren is not only a vocalist like no other but an amazing live performer. I am truly looking forward to hearing more, my order for HWS2 has been placed.
Already have my order placed for the new MAB "HWS2" CD and can't wait for it to arrive!!! It has been my pleasure to see Warren perform on several occassions and from the very first time, my reaction has always been best summed up in one word - WOW!!! He is an AMAZING vocal talent. As already stated by others his range is unbelievable! And he always brings a positive, high-energy performance. I can't wait to hear him accompanied by such accomplished musicians as are compiled on this CD. I'll be sure to comment again once the CD has arrived!
I've played shows and shared the stage on tunes with Warren. It's always a good time and he's a good wingman! HAHAHA! And for those that don't know, he's a pretty damn good guitar player too! Proud of ya, brutha! Warren's vocals just kick a**, period.
Hopefully we'll share the stage again some time soon!
I have had my copy of HWS2-Voices for a little over a month now and I still listen to it every single day! I am never more than an arms reach from being able to hear it...I've loaded the entire cd on my iPod, my phone, my laptop and keep a copy in my car. My daughter begged for me to copy it to her iPod...at just 10 yrs old, she was blown away! And this is one finicky little metal head! The first time she heard the cd she got mad because she thought I'd turned it off and that we were listening to the radio. When I explained to her that it was Warren singing, she insisted that I was lying! Her words were "NO! That's Ozzy!" I had to take the cd out and put I back in to prove her wrong! Every track is great, the instrumentalists are fabulous and Warren Dunlevy's vocals leave you speechless, at times. He truly is a vocal chameleon and a treat for the ears! and MAB is practically super-human in his speed and technique! You will NOT be disappointed in this cd!!!!
