Hungarian guitar maestro Jonas Tamas has just released his second album Timeless Hour through Steve Vai’s Favoured Nations label.
A culmination of two years work Timeless Hour follows on from Jonas’ successful debut album Sharp Guitars From A Flat Planet and features guest appearances from some of the world’s top players, including the likes of Brett Garsed, Andy James, Mattias Eklundh and the legendary Troy Stetina.
The album’s opening track Rule Of Thumb, quickly sets the scene and vibe for the album with its progtastic sequenced arpeggiated keyboard intro theme, heavy riffs and melodic guitar.
The pace and sonic palette is varied though with the fantastically exotic sounding The Unbreakable, the lovely laid back piano intro and uplifting harmony guitar parts of Chance and acoustic piece Space Walk.
There is obviously some outstanding guitar technical playing on display here which helps build the intensity and excitement of the music but Jonas has a great melodic sense and touch in his playing too, as can be heard on an another album favourite of mine, Farewell, which as an added bonus also features a sublime guest solo from the mighty Brett Garsed!
In fact the quality of guests Jonas has invited to play on this album speaks volumes. Their contributions fit and compliment each song very well. Especially the combination of the phenomenal Andy James and keyboardist Sergey Boykov on Borderline.
Not only did Jonas mix and produce the album but, excluding the guest solos, the entire album, guitars, keyboards, bass and drums were all played and programmed by Jonas, which is an impressive feat in itself! My only personal gripe is with the sound of the programmed drums, which for me sit a little too far back in the mix. A little big bigger and splashier and the album would sound even more epic.
An eclectic mix of stunning modern guitar work that fuses elements of Rock, Fusion, Prog and Metal Timeless Hour will appeal to lovers of intense modern instrumental guitar music.
Check out Jonas’ Facebook page for audio previews and much more.
The album is available now worldwide from CD Baby and iTunes.
Album Tracklisting
1. Rules Of Thumb (featuring Marcel Coenen)
2. Debate (featuring Mattias IA Eklundh)
3. All Night Pass
4. The Unbreakable (featuring Mischa Mang, Troy Stetina and Thorsten Koehne)
5. Chance
6. Platinum
7. Farewell (featuring Brett Garsed)
8. Borderline (featuring Andy James and Mats Haugen)
9. Spacewalk
10. My Mind Is Up
For Fans Of: Dream Theater, Marco Sfogli, Andy James
Standout tracks: The Unbreakable, Farewell
UK Release Date: Available NOW
Jonas has recently been added to the impressive roster at jamtrackcentral.com, check out this video of him playing Zenith from his first album Sharp Guitars From A Flat Planet:
