TOWER OF BABEL: Lake Of Fire [ 2017 ].

Joe Stump and his New Band: A Journey to the Heart of Hard Rock and Classic Metal

The renowned guitarist Joe Stump launches his new project, an album that marks a change of direction in his career. This album is positioned on the line between the old school hard rock and the classic European power metalwith clear and recognisable influences throughout the songs.

Musical Influences and Concept of the Album

Stump describes his music as the sum of all his influences, highlighting the marked presence of Ritchie Blackmore (by Rainbow and Deep Purple) and Yngwie Malmsteen, He considers them to be his two greatest inspirations. The album also pays tribute to the early work of Michael Schenker Group and to the initial discs of Scorpions with Uli Jon Roth. In addition, he mentions the influence of the Argentinian band White Rat and the work of his guitarist, Walter Giardino, with whom he shares the same «school» of playing.

The main aim of this album was to create a more band and song-centric album with vocals, unlike their recent instrumental work. Although the guitar is still the central element, the focus shifts to the composition of the songs. hard rock and classic metal tunes rather than a pure metal style. Stump were looking for a sound that would appeal to their most loyal fans as well as hard rock and power metal fans.

For the creation of the record, Joe Stump and vocalist Csaba Zvekan were inspired by the collaboration between Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore in the Rainbow era, seeking to replicate that chemistry in their own work.

Differences with Previous Projects and the Contribution of New Musicians

The main difference with his previous releases lies in the format: this is a full band oriented work, unlike his last albums which were exclusively instrumental. Stump wanted a new project, not a repeat of his previous band, Joe Stump's Reign Of Terror.

The new members of the band have were fundamental to the sound of the album. The drummer Mark Cross provides a powerful rhythmic base, while the keyboard player Master Mistheria adds touches of «old school» with his orchestrations. Nicola Angileri, on bass, creates a solid base and provides very interesting unison lines. For his part, vocalist Csaba Zvekan has elevated the songs to another level with his powerful voice, both melodically and lyrically.