Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Randy Ellefson Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid Company: Indy Release: 2007 Reviewer: Nailer Genre: Rock instrumental

Rating 3.5

Simply put, it's fun to listen to

It would be very disheartening to obtain the skills of a virtuoso guitar player then have your abilities stripped quickly away; your life having to completely adapt to a new disability. Randy Ellefson overcame tendonitis in both arms to compose The Firebard and his latest cd Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid.

Sticking close to the tone and form of his debut cd The Firebard, Randy builds off of a musical motif, or fragment, into full songs with a style that is more user-friendly than a lot of the discordant music out in the metal scene. Simply put, it's fun to listen to--think Joe Satriani's "Surfing With the Alien" sound. STABLU worked best for me in smaller doses, since I prefer melodies to rip at my soul and turn my feelings inside-out. Randy's playing better fit the cheer of a Summer drive. You can hear how Randy improved on the flow and production overall from the prior cd and within 45 minutes of instrumental work I really enjoyed when he ventured off his standard path with experiments in waltz rhythms and such.

Randy Ellefson seems like a nice enough guy, a modern day bard, his music matching the pleasant promo picture he provides. He's recently formed an Iron Maiden tribute band called Seventh Son with Images of Eden vocalist Gordon Tittsworth. With their penchant for melodic metal, they should more than please.