Review of the Album "Mind’s Eye" by American Neoclassical Rock Guitarist Vinnie Moore
Introduction to "Mind's Eye" the Debut Album by Vinnie Moore
Mind’s Eye is the debut album by American neoclassical guitarist Vinnie Moore and this album came out back in 1986. Here we are in early 2019 as I write on this and attempt to look back on an album that many fans of this style of heavy metal have probably forgotten now. The album’s style is very much in the realm of Yngwie J. Malmsteen but at this time in the history of heavy metal, America was solidly making a case musically that it could compete with other countries especially Europe.
Genre: Instrumental guitar music with Neo-classical based playing
Record label: Shrapnel Records
Band Personnel for Mind’s Eye:
Vinnie Moore: guitars
Andy West: bass guitars
Tommy Aldridge: drums
Tony Macalpine-keyboards
Mind's Eye Album Cover
Very Impressive Statistic About Mind's Eye
Mind’s Eye was composed in just 11 days back in 1986 when Moore was at the young age of 21!
Additional Perspective on the Album Mind's Eye
Robert Taylor of the website All Music says in his review of the album that “the problem with Mind’s Eye and the subsequent genre of shredding that followed was that it became stagnant,” (Taylor). Stagnant? How so? I myself have been a big fan of this shredding neoclassical style of metal so I may be biased in that sense.
In Control is the song that starts off this album and very shortly, we are hearing the shredding guitar work of Vinnie Moore as well as the exotic creativity.
The Album Was/Is an Opportunity for Vinnie Moore to Lead the Way for American Neoclassical Metal
1986 already was a great year for heavy metal in the United States and I write this review with a deep sense of gratitude for the talents of Vinnie Moore and it is important to recognize this man’s creativity and talents as Jason Becker another American guitarist had his career cut short due to ALS. Vinnie Moore might as well pick up the slack and lead the way for American neoclassical shred metal.
Analysis of the Songs Hero Without Honor & Lifeforce
Hero Without Honor features brilliant keyboard play by Tony Macalpine as musically the song has riffing similar to the song Prelude/Into the Future which would come soon after this album. Another part of this 4th song features a style that is similar to the song “The Tempest.” Lifeforce has one of the most melodic and memorable riffs in the history of Vinnie Moore’s career and to that, we can all say thanks for being so brilliant that you were at this age Vinnie! Even if he technically is an Yngwie Malmsteen clone type of musician, Vinnie Moore is one of the best American born guitarists of the last 35 years or so. Jason Becker would have reached even greater heights had disease not crippled his abilities. Mind’s Eye the song sounds a little like a song off of the Rising Force Odyssey album but with better production.
"Lifeforce"
"Mind's Eye" Final Thoughts
This article was not meant to compare Jason Becker to Vinnie Moore but the point was made because since ALS pretty much limited Jason Becker’s speed and creativity, fortunately, Vinnie Moore has been healthy enough to show his creative skills and still make an instrumental album that is worthy of respect and admiration. The strongest songs in Mind’s Eye include Hero Without Honor, Lifeforce, and Mind’s Eye.
Bibliography
Taylor, R. (n.d.). ALLMUSIC. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from AllMusic.com: https://www.allmusic.com/album/minds-eye-mw0000191083
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2019 Ara Vahanian
