Chris Poland: Chasing the Sun (2002)

John W. Patterson

Recent articles (186 total)

Published: March 20, 2003

This is an amazingly solid guitar-driven release. It is full of crunch, grit, punch, tone, overdrive, and spiced with feedback amongst tight riffage. You dig rock, foam over fusion? Chasing the Sun excels at a perfect mixing of both genres. Compositions flow well with interest levels kept high—you get to groove, get wild, wax weird, and enjoy tons of soulful musicianship. This is top-notch guitar goods.

Poland has crafted 13 tracks guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of guitar fans. All the bass and drum work serve as foundations for Poland to blow free and build crescendo upon crescendo. Highlights include “Robo Stomp,” “Chasing the Sun,” “Hip Hop Karma,” and the Hendrixian tribute tune “Sand Castles.”

Echoes of Jeff Beck ( There and Back era), bluesy-fusion rock by Scott Henderson, flashes of Santana, and full-out Hendrix flow from this song-fest of strings. Poland is no empty-headed flash riffer—he injects real soul and melodic balance into each solo. I give this listening treat a well-earned 12.5 outta 10. Rock on Chris! Look for his fusion project, OHM, to explode on the scene anytime . . .

Record Label: Grooveyard Records
Style: Fusion/Progressive Rock