As we've reported, former Cacophony and Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman will release his new album, Wall of Sound, August 4 via Prosthetic Records.[1] The album...
As we've reported, former Cacophony and Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman will release his new album, Wall of Sound, August 4 via Prosthetic Records.[1]
The album was produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (Ghost, Rush, Alice in Chains) and mixed by Jens Bogren (Lamb of God, Opeth).
As always, it features an incredibly talented group of musicians. The core band on Wall of Sound includes Anup Sastry, who shares drumming duties with veteran Gregg Bissonette, and Japanese musician Kiyoshi, one of the most aggressive bass goddesses on the planet. Guests include Jinxx of Black Veil Brides and Shiv Mehra of Deafheaven; Jorgen Munkeby of Shining lends his voice to the album's only non-instrumental track.
Today we present the exclusive premiere of “Whiteworm,” one of Wall of Sound's pivotal tracks. We asked Friedman to break down the new tune, and he offered oodles of insight.
"There are many unique playing, composing and arranging concepts on each song [on Wall of Sound], and they are quite different from each other," Friedman says. "In 'Whiteworm,' it starts with an element that I like, which is to do something that 'doesn't sound like me.'
"I tend to sound like myself even when I'm not trying to, so it is a little thrill to come up with something that doesn't smell like me at all. Also, I think a subliminal goal in rock music is to have an intro that many people will want to pick up a guitar and play—'Stairway to Heaven,' 'Smoke on the Water,' etc. Since those days, more challenging things can inspire people too. This intro would have made me run to a guitar to try to learn it when I was 15.
"Also I like to have progressive elements in my music, but I