Artist: Super String Theory Album: Principles of Transformation (2007) Label: Private Release Website: http://www.super-string-theory.com Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: 1 A Philosopher's Suspicious Tale 2 Principles of Transformation 3 The Colored Pencil Hiest 4 Endless Manicotti Bar 5 Sometimes Goodbye Takes Forever 6 Scary Dad 7 Seduccion del Prototipo 8 The Great Dictator Missouri’s Super String Theory has been wowing midwest audiences with their brand of heavy instrumental rock since the release of their debut album in 2003. Principles of Transformation is their most recent release, and I have to say...I’m a bit disappointed that it’s taken me close to 2 years to get a copy for review. I say this because the band generally avoids most of the pitfalls that instrumental groups seem to find with unerring accuracy. First and foremost, the group plays songs. Not springboards for individuals showing off, not frameworks for solo after solo after duet (gotcha!) after solo. Of course, there are plenty of flashy examples of instrumental fireworks peppering the musical landscapes, but they tend to fit the compositions, not the other way around. Secondly, Super String Theory sounds like a band. This is not a vehicle for a single musician to use as a way of metaphorically saying “Look at me, look at me! Me! Me!” While this is a rock band, and as such guitar tends to take a more dominant role, there’s plenty to take in from a drumming or bass or keyboard standpoint. Finally, there’s diversity here...and it’s fluent diversity. The acoustic instrumental “Seduccion del Prototipo” sounds just as fluid and natural as do the electric, heavy ones...and in fact, I find the flamenco tinged piece to be incredibly addictive. I don’t know if I’d be able to listen to 40 or 50 minutes of material like this without a break, but as a change of pace...it’s perfect. Aaron Roten’s acoustic playing is quicksilver fast, with individual notes ringing clean, not slurred or buzzing. It’s both an impressive display of technique and a fantastic showcase of composition. Another highlight for me is the album closer, “The Great Dictator.” Built around a series of samples and dialogue lifted from the 1940 Charlie Chaplin film of the same name, the playing is intense, with trashy, thrashy rhythm guitar over a thick and punchy groove driven by Steve Mason on drums and Rick Stansfield on bass. At times Roten’s guitar playing reminds of John Petrucci, at other times Joe Satriani. Some of his fluid melodic lines even recall John McLaughlin in the early Mahavishnu days, from the standpoint of how naturally the notes flow from his fingers. The song flows through a number of phases and styles, shifting from metal to fusion to Zappa-esque synchronised guitar/keyboard harmonies. It’s good stuff. Also worth noting is the opening track on Principles of Transformation, “A Philosopher’s Suspicious Tale.” I pick up a feel on this piece that reminds me of Fromuz a little bit, despite the fact that I believe that this piece came first. It’s got a touch of an eastern musical vibe to it, wrapped around a driving, relentless beat that propels the listener forward along with the music. Energetic, almost bouncy, and above all tightly composed and skillfully played, it’s a piece that in lesser hands would have fallen victim to layers of dueling guitar lines and flying keyboard solos akimbo. Instead...it’s a song. Amazingly, all this diversity...and more!...is jammed onto an album less than 40 minutes long. I know when “The Great Dictator” finished I waited a good minute or two for the next song to start up, shocked that the album was finished already. It’s a testament to the band’s playing and writing that I feel the release too short. In an era where the prevailing concept seems to be “our CD can hold 80 minutes of music...let’s jam it full!”, it’s a pleasure to see a band release a tight album with no filler. Principles of Transformation leaves me wanting more, and that’s not something I can always say with a straight face. Principles of Transformation is a fantastic rock instrumental album, and I can’t recommend it, or praise it, highly enough. Band Members: Jimmy Pitts – keyboards Steve Mason – drums Aaron Roten – guitars Rick Stansfield – bass guitar