MARK SCHUSTER

Artist's Website
Contact Artist
Illinois, USA

Warranties and Disclaimers

"What makes a great instrumental album? This is a question that we should ponder with intellect and attention, focus and heart. To take on a instrumental project one must allow the axe to speak instead of vocals, and it has to be done in a very concise manner, or all is lost on the novice listener. Mark Schuster’s ‘Monster Me’ is described by the artist as 10 Instrumental Hard/Rock Metal songs. I describe it as a Story told by guitar. A story that is unique to whomever is listening, it is not overplayed, the melody is present, and never foregone to ‘ham it up’. So often soloists violate that simple rule. They overplay and what is sacrificed is the journey. The track ‘Agree to Disagree’ slows down in the appropriate places to allow the eyes to focus as the ears react pleasantly. By the time I reached ‘Bang Bang’ I had chosen a destination in my mind and Mark allowed me to roam freely with the perfect tone and pitch. This player is confident, energetic and hammers you when necessary. The artist uses effects and delays appropriately throughout his pieces and he holds notes and picks never forgetting that a hammer needs a nail if you are going to build something. Dancing with the Devil is a track that did just that, what a build up. I think that this is a must listen. The instrumental's make a collectors overall appreciation of metal have an almost academic meaning. This album needs to find it’s way into your mind and cd case. Congrats Mark my first 5 on the old 1-5 scale." - John Ritondo, Bad Attitude Radio

"Instrumental Melodic Hardrock in the best 80s style (read: early SATRIANI, VAI, VAN HALEN) is what we get to hear on the debut CD of the Chicago based guitarist MARK SCHUSTER. Actually you should call this mastermind a multi-instrumentalist as well as producer, because he did everything on his own. The result is a great typical instrumental Hardrock CD with one foot in the 80s (the songs), although the production quality is of course the level of 2006, so nothing sounding dated here. Recommended to fans of guitar orientated instrumental Melodic Hardrock, because there are some really gems on the CD (check out the awesome “Agree to disagree” that has some beautiful melodic guitarwork). (Points: 8.3 out of 10)" - Gabor Fabian, Strutter'zine