Tony Macalpine
Maximum Security


5.0
classic

Review

by Shredgazmo USER (4 Reviews)
January 16th, 2019 | 18 replies


Release Date: 1987 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Maximum Shred!!!!

Shred guitar playing was essentially the progeny of White American guitar players invented by Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satriani and later popularized by Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen. Among the majority of White shredders, Tony Macalpine was always someone who flew under the shadow of the aforementioned greats albeit being a phenomenal guitarist and even better keyboardist. Being African-American, he somehow adds more soul to the shred which I find lacking in many white guitarists except for Satriani. He regularly played keyboards with Vai's live band as well and is hailed by Vai himself.

This album is the culmination of all of Tony's talents for me. The album never sound wankerish, all the lead parts sound very significant to the song and don't hinder the sound but add to the feel of the songs. The opening 4 songs are classics and the rest of them also fit in nicely into the listening experience. Great listening while driving and working out, not ideal if you want to kick back with a beer and chips.

Tony is still very underrated partly due to lack of marketing and production on his early records which is a bit low-budget but the meat and potatoes of this album is so good that production does not matter. Tony and Greg Howe for me are two of the greatest shredders of all time.

Recommended tracks:

Hundreds of Thousands
Tears of Sahara
Key to the City


user ratings (41)
4.1
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Ev1lToaster
January 16th 2019


185 Comments


"Similar Bands: Yngwie Malmsteen"

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Hard pass

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 16th 2019


10967 Comments


Album stream:
http://musicmp3.ru/artist_tony-macalpine__album_maximum-security.html

Short and sweet review, pos.

KjSwantko
January 16th 2019


12217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Album fookin' rules, and Tony should've gotten more widespread success. However, as much as I love Tony, he plays 2nd fiddle to "soul"-less white guys like Vai for a reason - and it isn't the pigment of his skin as you so bizarrely felt the need to mention.







DarkHorizontal
January 16th 2019


173 Comments


yeah this rules. just bought the vinyl the other day for like 4 bucks. probably see him in march

bloc
January 16th 2019


70694 Comments


Damn this never had a review? Def one of my fav shred albums. Much better than that Satriani and Vai shite

Shredgazmo
January 17th 2019


41 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I agree, KjSwantko, skin color was inappropriate no dis-respect intended, the point I am trying to make is that how many african-americans have success in rock/metal?

Also being a huge fan, it pains me that metalcore/nu metal had bigger success than Tony.

Shredgazmo
January 17th 2019


41 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Ev1lToaster, Yeah Malmsteen is a bit of a stretch but both of them do play with similar techniques.

Shredgazmo
January 17th 2019


41 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Thanks Voivod, appreciated.

Hawks
January 17th 2019


94268 Comments


Tony Mencalpine - Menximum Security

KjSwantko
January 17th 2019


12217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

All good, Shredgazmo. It is rare indeed brother.

RunOfTheMill
June 20th 2019


4597 Comments


Yeh so this is so good mhmm

KjSwantko
June 20th 2019


12217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Amazing album from what I remember. Surprised to see anyone talking about it

RunOfTheMill
June 21st 2019


4597 Comments


Hehe that's cuz I'm seeing him tonight

I listened to that M.A.R.S. album and thought I'd give this one a try

KjSwantko
June 22nd 2019


12217 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Nice man. The Mars album rules too! I think I might've even reviewed it many years ago too. Or I just made up, who knows

Kusangii
January 4th 2024


7131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Wow this rules

NudeTayne
May 3rd 2024


1138 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

literally one of the best albums I've ever heard and has been the foundation of my inspiration for learning guitar since I was 20

Kusangii
May 3rd 2024


7131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Hell yeah, this guy is crazy and extremely overlooked. Surprised he isn't more well known

NudeTayne
May 4th 2024


1138 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

guitarists are always getting swept under the rug, I think in the current time period the only guitarists that really remained relevant from the hair metal years to most people are Vai, Lynch, Satriani, it's a shame too seeing as Lynch was in this album for a song.



Dreamstate gotta be my favorite here



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