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NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – February 4, 2020
For fans of Joe Satriani, Rush, Yngwie J Malmsteen, Steve Vai
Canadian Guitar Prog PYRAMIDS ON MARS Shares Guitar Playthrough ‘F-22 Raptor’
New Album “Edge of The Black” Out Now!
Guitarist Kevin Estrella is sharing his latest guitar playthrough video for the track ‘F-22 Raptor’ off the third full length “Edge of the Black” released this past December from his project Pyramids On Mars. The album offers up an aural palette of intense instrumental progressive shredding rock that’s emotional, provocative and 4-dimensional.
Watch the playthough here: https://youtu.be/-SV7BF5mnKM
“Edge of the Black” follows Pyramids On Mars‘ two previous albums and was written, composed and performed solely by Kevin Estrella who cites influences from musical greats including J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi along with today’s guitar virtuosos Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. “Edge of the Black” pays homage to these artists while still maintaining Estrella’s own creative flair.
Estrella explains the track in further detail:
“‘F-22 Raptor’ was inspired from watching several videos on the incredible flying capabilities of the super jet. I have gotten inspiration for songs from watching videos. For example ‘Battle from Rome’ off my previous release Echo Cosmic was inspired by watching the video game trailer for Ryse, Son of Rome. Watch the trailer, and you can imagine hearing the song Battle for Rome in it.
Many people comment that my music would make great video game soundtracks.
‘F-22 Raptor’ is inspired by Ozzy Osbourne’s song ‘Miracle Man’ off No Rest for the Wicked. The breakout album for Zakk Wylde. With its driving rhythm. I didn’t make the comparison until after my song was written. Then I heard the unconscious influence. I thought it was pretty cool! Zakk Wylde is a big inspiration for Edge of the Black. The end of the guitar solo on Nacht Waffen has a wide vibrato screaming ending very much influenced by Zakk Wylde.
The guitar solo in F-22 is obviously influenced by my other greatest influence, Yngwie J Malmsteen. The whole song is played on my custom-built Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster that you see me playing in the playthrough video. I built that guitar myself and gave it a custom ‘crop circle’ paint job. Has a scalloped maple neck, brass nut, DiMarzio HS-3 humbucker in neck position, DiMarzio PAF-Pro humbucker in the bridge (Joe Satriani’s pickup). Everything else is stock from my ’88 Stratocaster. The guitar is amazing.”
“Edge of The Black” is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music.
Track Listing:
1. Blood Moon 5:42
2. Nacht Waffen 6:56
3. Song of Light 5:44
4. F-22 Raptor 5:53
5. The Ambassador 4:57
6. Mercury Magnetar 4:58
7. Arcturian Rain 4:38
8. Time to Believe 4:40
9. Arioso Lullaby 4:39
10. Whale Song 4:28
Album Length: 52:40
For more info:
PyramidsOnMars.com
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About:
Every once in a while there comes along a band that is so different or unique, you would think they were dropped on Earth from another planet. Pyramids On Mars is one of those bands. What first catches you, is that they are an instrumental band. A combination of elements such as hard rock, industrial, metal and psychedelic rock: and then the lead guitar comes soaring in. Well crafted, beautiful, melodic phrases so catchy and memorable they will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
Pyramids On Mars is the solo project of guitarist Kevin Estrella. He wanted to do something musically different that would stand out from the crowd. Estrella’s musical style is very similar to world-renowned rock guitarist Joe Satriani, so much so that Estrella has nicknamed himself the “Satriani of the North.”
“Of course Satriani has had a huge influence on me,” he says “But he (Satriani) does more of a bluesy thing whereas I am more influenced by classical music. I absolutely love the Baroque classical composers J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi who are my biggest musical influences.
Estrella recorded, produced, engineered and mastered his debut album, self-titled “Pyramids On Mars” in 2013. Since then, he has been capturing music industry attention-getting international radio airplay in the U.S, Canada, South America, and Europe. He is a regular guest on Brian ‘the hammer’ Jackson radio (Los Angeles) to over 4 million listeners and a weekly speaker on Real Rock Radio (Chicago).
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“Not only is Kevin Estrella a understated multi instrumentalist but he can write some amazing pieces of music that have influences of Bach and Vivaldi whilst marrying the best guitar virtuosos of today. This is the must have guitar instrumental album of 2019.” – All About The Rock
“The whole album is persistently conceptualising the idea of a place beyond the black, leaving a lingering sense of both existentialism and awe at Kevin Estrella’s musical talent and ability. He fully allocates all the elements of the band equal respect to create a holistic and visceral thrill that emotionally charges the whole album whilst telling a story that has to be listened to.” – Original Rock
“What we have here is over 50 minutes of intensive guitar playing that holds the attention by being layered with varied tempos, melodies and hooks.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life
“No lyrics are necessary for the dynamic Estrella, who delivers every shred of guitar you hear throughout the entirety of Edge of The Black’s ten tracks. The album is as daring and progressive as the classic Joe Satriani instrumental record Surfing With The Alien was upon its release in 1987. It drips with passion, energy, and melody, and pays homage to not only Satriani but also Estrella’s other important influences, such as Rush. Rush is ingrained in the circuitry of Estrella, a band that was very much “instrumental” in Estrella going the route he did with his musical career. ” – PureGrainAudio
“This album was interesting. It does take the listener on a journey, and it cannot be denied that Estrella is unbelievably talented. The sci-fi, edge of the universe subject matter is very clear, and fans of this kind of thing will love this album.” – Grater Mag
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