With a name like Greg X I'm thinking less of Malcolm X and more Racer X crossed with Greg Howe - this is music we're talking about after all and not a history quiz. And so spinning the disc it would seem I'm right - Greg X is indeed a solo guitarist but, if I seem to have cracked the Da Vinci code, I soon find out that things aren't quite as they seem. This is no shred record. Turns out that it's a pretty good AOR album.

Greg X is partnered up with vocalist Ken Tamplin who some of you might know as cousin to Sammy Hagar, or perhaps through his vocal academy - you too can unlock those elusive 3 octaves giving you 4 - count them - 4 in total. Or maybe you even know him from his own solo career and bands such as Shout and Joshua?

Anyway Ken manages to put a different spin on things with a voice that sounds by turns like Joe Lynn Turner, Lou Gramm, Jeff Scott Soto but mostly himself.

Greg X is a self-confessed music fan, as well as a London-based guitar teacher, and openly pays tribute to his influences that inspired this album. 'As The World Spins 'Round' has a Rainbow vibe to it - like a Dio-era song but with Joe Lynn Turner-era vocals. 'How To Love' has a heavy Whitesnake '1987' influence to it with a chorus that perhaps owes more to Foreigner. It's a good recovery from the previous Asia-like tones of 'Dream The Dream' which, on the surface' works fine but I was left with the lingering thought that it was undermined by some demo-ish production - it didn't quite gel for me.

'Wake Me (Before You Go)' is another Rainbow influenced tune with a dual-harmony riff that's reminiscent of The Scorpions. This is a cut where Greg X gets to burn and where Ken gets to show off his range - yep, believe or not - 4 octaves are possible.

Finishing off the album we get, and Greg gets, the instrumental that we've been waiting for. 'Victory' is a big number, anthemic and operatic with celtic flavours and mucho sweeping.

As a guitar player Greg X is immensely accomplished and it's somewhat unusual and refreshing that, despite being the driving force behind the creation of this album, he takes a supporting role - letting the songs, and Ken Tamplin, do the talking without forcing his playing down your throat. Definitely something that the AOR fans will appreciate

http://gregxmusic.com/