Thanks to Beavis and Butthead and Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” video, Winger is one of the most unfairly ridiculed bands in hard rock history. While I was never the biggest fan of the band myself, when it came to churning out harmless pop metal, there were far worse perpetrators (Nelson anyone?). Furthermore, their individual abilities as musicians can’t be overstated enough. Before starting his namesake band, Kip Winger held down the low end for Alice Cooper. Rod Morgenstein was already established as one of the greatest drummers of all time, thanks to his work with jazz rock legends, Dixie Dregs. And then there’s guitarist Reb Beach.
Having also played alongside Dokken and Whitesnake, Beach is one of the most in demand shredders around. Take one listen to A View from the Inside, his first solo album in nearly 20 years, and you’ll understand why. In a world where even the latest offerings from Satriani have become predictable, Reb Beach offers a fresh and energetic take on instrumental guitar rock.
A View kicks off with a rerecording of “Black Magic”. It originally appeared on a 1992 Guitar World compilation, Guitars That Rule the World. If GW released a follow up compilation entitled Guitars That STILL Rule the World, this song would likely obliterate the competition. It may be the most conventional track, but I couldn’t think of a better opener for a shred album.
Now while I refer to A View from the Inside as “shred”, it’s not solely a shred album. When I think of shred, I think of endless arpeggios played at lightning speed in the vein of Yngwie Malmsteen. There are momentary bursts of such, but for the most part, Reb’s playing is evened out by meaningful soloing, filled with color and emotion. You can hear the minute influences of Jeff Beck and Steve Morse, especially on jazzier tracks like “Attack of the Massive” and “Whiplash”.
Another highlight is “Infinito 1122”. This song features dark, brooding riffs that are contrasted by Latin influenced soloing. On the flip side of the coin is the closing “Sea of Tranquility”. With its ambient atmosphere and gentle melodies, “Sea of Tranquility” is proof that you don’t always have to go out with a bang to get the point across.
A View from the Inside is hands down the most enjoyable instrumental guitar album I’ve heard since Nita Strauss’s solo debut, Controlled Chaos. Funny enough, that Strauss album is nearing its second anniversary. Hopefully it’s not another two years before I find another six string luminary who’ll occupy my playlist in the weeks to come.
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Buckethead