Kuprij, Vitalij - Glacial Inferno & Revenge (8,5/10) - Ukraïne - 2007   Genre: Instrumental Metal / Progressive Metal Label: Lion Music Playing time: 50:57/57:13 Band homepage: Kuprij, Vitalij   Tracklist: CD1 Glacial Inferno Symphonic Force Liquid Rain Fire In The Sun Divided Horizon Glacial Inferno Dancing Flame Forgive Dying To Live Burning Ice Theme By Albinoni (Bonus Europe)   CD2 Revenge Burning My Soul I Don’t Believe In Love Into The Void Revenge Just Another Day Excerpt From Sonata In E Minor (J. Haydn) Classic War Emperor’s Will Follow Your Heart Stand Up And Fight Let The Future Unfold   Arguably one of the best keyboardists in the Metal world (and an accomplished concert pianist to boot), Vitalij Kuprij of the Ukraine has been steadily pumping out dazzling instrumental albums for a while now. The virtuoso keyboardist has a flair for odd time signatures and choppy rhythms, much like his Lion Music label-mate Alex Masi. In addition to his solo work, Kuprij has also played in the Neoclassical Metal bands ARTENSION and RING OF FIRE. Now, Kuprij’s last solo effort (2004’s “Forward And Beyond”) didn’t fare so well under the judgment of The Metal Observer; fortunately, I can report that “Glacial Inferno” is both a technical showcase and something well worth spending sixty minutes of your time on.   Instrumental albums get a lot of flack for their supposed “wankery”, which ultimately translates to a full hour of straight soloing. The thing is, when you’re a pianist signed to Lion Music, who do you look to inspiration except the greatest wankers of all time? Bach, Mozart, Beethoven…these chaps had no intentions of merely being “accompaniment” musicians; they could solo like hell, and so they did. Kuprij understands this, and so there are no vocals to be found on “Glacial Inferno”. However, there are other virtuosi, including guitarist Michael Harris (check out his newly released “Orchestrate” album for more shredding madness), as well as the former ARK/Yngwie Malmsteen rhythm section of Randy Coven (bass) and John Macaluso (drums). Together, the foursome have crafted a fine album indeed.   “Glacial Inferno” is an excellent balance between mellow mid-tempo journeys (like the title track and “Dancing Flame”) and wild Neoclassical speed-runs (“Burning Ice”, “Fire In The Sun”, or album opener “Symphonic Force”). Of the two, I found the latter more enjoyable, mainly due to the warp-speed shredding both Kuprij and Harris bring out on the tracks. The songs are incredibly varied for an Instrumental album; each one has its own little “hook” or motif so you can instantly tell it apart from the others, which only makes sense on a vocal-less CD.   “Glacial Inferno” is worthy of a buy simply by itself; however, Lion Music just had to do us one better and couple it with Kuprij’s previously unreleased (and much sought-after) “Revenge” project. For those of you who love wild instrumental virtuosity but would really prefer a few vocals on the side, Kuprij has got you covered with the best of the best. Using the exact same band members that played on “Glacial Inferno”, Kuprij delivers a Progressive Metal masterpiece with help from such vocalists as the wondrous Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, SUNSTORM), Dougie White (RAINBOW), and Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND). Adding these singers is icing on the cake, and with any luck, it’ll attract fans of more mainstream Metal fare into Kuprij’s circle. “Revenge” is an excellent album and should by no means be passed up.   Now that you know what an exceptional deal this limited edition two-pack is, here’s the catch: Lion Music is only printing 2000 copies. If you’re a fan of Kuprij’s past work or even a fan of Yngwie Malmsteen (seeing as nearly every single musician on both “Glacial Inferno” and “Revenge” has played with the Swedish shredder at some point), you’d best snatch this one up as soon as possible. I’m pretty sure “Glacial Inferno” is also seeing a standalone release, but as of right now, this combo is the only way for European fans to get their hands on the über-rare “Revenge”. (Online April 10, 2007) www.metal-observer.com

Vitalij Kuprij - Glacial Inferno And Revenge (Lion Music) By: Joe Florez www.live4metal.com

Not since Jens Johannson, has there been an individual who has not only performed on countless projects with other people, but pumped out their own material as well. Anyone in the prog scene knows of V.K. He has been in bands with Artension, Ring Of Fire and countless others. Look at the man’s site for all of that. He is a very busy man being used up by the metal community, but this neo-classical keyboard wizard has managed to dish out “Glacial Inferno” with a bonus full length disc “Revenge” offered up for a limited time. G.I. contains some powerful musicians that are along for the ride. Michael Harris is a guitar virtuoso that had an incredible release just a few months ago on this label. Former Yngwie members John Maccaluso on drums who has proven himself to be an incredible performer and legendary bassist Randy Coven are on board as well. With this line-up, it has to be good. “Symphonic Force” proves to be just that. You get a highly passionate and explosive uptempo number that has Vitalij moving his fingers across the black and white keys at MACH 5 speed. The section proves that they can keep up with V.K.’S pace Mike surprisingly doesn’t shed. Instead, he plays at a consistent speed that isn’t obnoxious or over the top. “Liquid Rain” isn’t as outrageous as the opener. It’s still quick on it’s feet, but more room to let the songs breathe are showcased here. You can hear Mr. Harris’ work more prominently as opposed to the first track which was pretty much over powered by V’S work. Make no mistake, the composition is just as complicated as ever, but it’s a bit more relaxed and an easier pill to digest. You can hear everyone get down to business and enjoy it. After four tracks of high impact, things get scaled down just a bit for the title track. This one is a departure from the rest of the material because it’s more hard rock oriented with crunching riffs and a more simplistic 4/4 drum measure. Sure there are some moments of shredding and ivory key wizardry, but it’s the atmosphere and calm state of minds that makes this song prevail overall. As we come to a close, I was more than impressed by what I heard. When you play neo-classical prog, it’s very easy to come off sounding like Yngwie or the countless others because they all share the same common thread. The difference here is that VK is a pro and knows that he is in competition with numerous others and he has to find a way to set himself apart. He does it very successfully because he marches to the beat of his own drum and incorporates other styles to keep things high and mighty. I normally try to stay away from instrumentals because they wear me down after a while, but this is too good to pass up and any true music lover won’t pass this up either. As far as the second disc “Revenge” goes, this one is loaded with guest singers from Joe Lynn Turner, to Doogie White, Goran Edman and more. Tracks like “Burning My Soul”, “Into The Void” and the title track to name a few on here are fast and furious and have that Yngwie feel, but it can’t be helped due to the fact that many of the singers were associated with him at one point in their careers. There is plenty of tempo changes on here to keep things entertaining. Overall, you are treated to two hours of heavenly bliss on here. A sure fire winner for all. www.lionmusic.com | www.vitalijkuprij.com

Kuprij, Vitalij: Forward and Beyond
 

Neo-classical metal keyboard ace Vitalij Kuprij has a brand new instrumental CD, titled Forward and Beyond, containing eight jaw dropping numbers, plus 2 solo Kuprij bonus tracks if you get the European digi-pack version. The current Artension keyboard wizard, and former Ring of Fire member, brought along a host of virtuoso guitar shredders for this outing, so if you dig aggressive, classically inspired instrumental metal, this release will be right up your alley.

Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo is on board for the complex "Piano Overture", adding his impeccable technique alongside Kuprij's amazing synth and piano lines. The two together create a huge wall of sound, much like a metal symphony, with Kuprij and his bank of Korg synthesizers trading blazing solos with Romeo's thick and chunky lines. The aggressive title track features some wicked playing from George Bellas, while "Time Will Tell" is a more symphonic and melodic affair, with Michael Harris adding the guitar histrionics. Guitarist Jeff Kollman strays from his normal hard rock/fusion material on the classically themed "Variations in D Minor", but succeeds mightily, throwing in some bluesy licks as well as burning, neo-classical shredding. Tasty arpeggios from Javier Leal battle Kuprij and his spacey textures on "Far From Home", while Harris returns for round two on the bombastic prog-metal of "Solar Impact." Here, Harris and Kuprij trade amazing and complex lead lines that will have you shaking your head in awe. More balls-to-the-wall prog-metal can be heard on "Message of Hope", where fellow Artension mate Roger Staffenbach joins forces with guitarists Borislav Mitic and Francesco Fareri, for an all-out shred fest of the highest degree.

The only real time you can relax and take a breath on Forward and Beyond is on the three solo Kuprij numbers "Idol Tribute", "Illusions", and "Phantom Fluries", where the keyboard maestro goes for a more introspective and majestic flair, while still showcasing his serious classical chops. While there is a fair amount of what some people will term "wankery" going on here, there is no denying the talent of Vitalij Kuprij and the guitarists that he has amassed for this recording. For an intense instrumental mix of classical, metal, and fusion, it doesn't get much better than this.

Track Listing
1) Forward and Beyond (5:40)
2) Piano Overture (5:37)
3) Time Will Tell (6:50)
4) Variations in D Minor (5:02)
5) Far From Home (6:32)
6) Phantom Flurries-Europe Bonus (1:06)
7) Solar Impact (5:02)
8) Illusion (2:57)
9) Message of Hope (5:54)
10) Idol Tribute-Europe Bonus (6:47)

Added: February 18th 2004
Reviewer: Pete Pardo www.seaoftranquility.com
Score:

VITALIJ KUPRIJ / Forward And Beyond / Lion Music by: DAN SKIBA www.metalexpress.no It’s true; timing is everything. A few months back, I decided to go to the stereo store and purchase some new speakers. I remember searching through my inventory of music, trying to find those CD’s that would best challenge whatever high-end tweeters and subwoofers the sales people could throw at me. Too bad for me I didn’t know I should have waited it out until Forward And Beyond from Ukraine native Vitalij Kuprij fell into my itchy palms, because this CD will provide about as thorough of a test to any stereo system as is imaginable! From my school days, I recall learning the human ear can detect frequencies between 20 and 20,000hz…and, you know, I’m pretty sure Kuprij touches on each frequency within that range at least once in Forward And Beyond. Kuprij, from the band Artension, is a classically trained pianist/keyboardist who developed a passion for music with an aggressive edge. In his 30 years, Kuprij has either been a student of, or has played with, the best musicians the world has to offer. In Forward And Beyond, Kuprij assembles some of the best guitar talent in the industry to complement his superbly accomplished keyboard skills and ingenuity. Mix all of this together, and you have one of the more enjoyable, skillfully written, and unique Metal instrumental albums in the history of the genre. I’ve come across a number of Metal fans who are immediately turned off by bands that incorporate piano and keyboard compositions within their music – in all fairness, sometimes this sentiment is indeed justified. Kuprij, though, completely takes keyboard/piano composition within the framework of Metal music to a new level – even those with the most steadfast of keyboard/piano distaste in Metal should give Forward And Beyond a listen. Kuprij couples aggressively growling bass and guitar rhythms with unbelievably fast, diverse, and imaginative keyboard/piano work. Topping off the already impressive and enjoyable, is the phenomenal guitar work by some of the industry’s best. They say “winners” rise to the occasion when the occasion to shine presents itself. Clearly, Kuprij’s talents cause each of his guitar guest accompaniers to put forth likewise remarkable efforts. The result is Metal music with multiple, complex layers that demonstrates plenty of depth and delivers innovative stereo effects at every turn (best appreciated when listening with headphones, by the way). The first track, the title track, features the talents of guitar teacher guru George Bellas. Anyone familiar with Bellas knows that he may be the absolute fastest axe-wielder in the land (yep, even faster than Yngwie Malmsteen). Kuprij matches Bellas’ guitar speed with exceptionally fast-paced keyboards. Kuprij also interestingly pairs up many of the guitar sounds with his keyboard sounds, causing the listener to have to listen closely, at times, to decipher which instrument is indeed responsible for the solo at hand. The second track is “Piano Overture” and starts/ends with solo conventional piano pieces. In the middle, however, is a multitude of keyboard diversity, showing Kuprij is a master of all keyboard variations. Couple this keyboard assault with Michael Romeo’s guitar expression, and you have a second winner. Track number three is “Time Will Tell” and features Michael Harris. Harris is also featured within the “Solar Impact” track. Overall, my take is Harris logs in the overall best guitar work of all of the virtuosos. It’s really like comparing Porsches to Ferraris, though, because each guitarist puts in unparalleled performances. Fourth is “Variations in D Minor.” This song begins with a classical piano intro, but incorporates a punchy guitar rhythm that has an underlying growl to it very similar to early Malmsteen. Overall, though, this song is designed to primarily focus on Kuprij’s classical piano aptitude. Jeff Kollman provides the guitar accompaniment for this track. Softer in tempo is the fifth track, "Far From Home.” Kuprij opts more to let his keyboard passages playfully dance here rather than sizzle like in the first four tracks. The slower interludes allow Javier Leal to shine when showcasing his accomplished guitar playing. Kuprij delves into “impressionistic” keyboard play during the track “Illusion.” Unlike the other tracks, this song really has nothing to do with the Metal genre, and probably would have been better either left off of this album, or placed at the end to let the listener fade out with parting music. This Pink Floyd-ish track is only 2:57 long, so no real damage is done here to the overall groove of the CD. Last is the track “Message Of Hope,” which kind of serves as the “grand finale” of the CD. If you’ve ever been to a fireworks show, you’ll recall the grand finale usually involves a multitude of rapidly delivered aerial bombs and the “best” aspects of the show that just transpired. Kuprij does essentially the same thing with “Message of Hope.” Roger Staffelbach, Borislav Mitic, and Francesco Fareri all take advantage of their opportunity to let their guitar talents shine at various intervals throughout the song. As has become customary by this point, Kuprij’s keyboard work is again beyond rational comprehension. The European version of Forward And Beyond includes two bonus tracks, both involving Kuprij flying solo on his piano. Great stuff, but no apparent roots in the Metal genre. Unless you’re hooked by this time on the beauty of keyboard/piano solo music, you’ll probably find yourself no better off after hearing these added songs. All in all, if you’re in the mood for aggressive music with a different edge and approach, check out this Kuprij release. If you’re not familiar with Kuprij from prior works, you definitely owe it to yourself to give this CD a shot and become acquainted. I think you’ll be both amazed AND glad you did! Oh yeah, did I mention Kuprij also personally handles all of the percussion work? To be expected with the stellar production quality of this CD, the drums are powerful, drive the pace of the songs well, and simply rock…it’s hard to believe Kuprij has had the time to become such an accomplished percussionist amid his piano/keys training and performances…but I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised! REPORT CARD: Guitars: A Bass: B Percussion: B+ Keyboards: A+ Recording Quality: A Originality: A- Overall Rating: A- Release Date: February 18, 2004

Kuprij, Vitalij: Forward and Beyond Released through Lion Music records. "The Ukrainian Vitalij Kuprij releases his new solo album Forward And Beyond on February 18th 2004. He is well established in both classical and rock and is a piano master, composer and performer. For this album he has surrounded himself with some well known guitarists  e.g. George Bellas, Michael Romeo, Michael Harris, Jeff Kollman, Javier Leal, Roger Staffelbach, Borislav Mitic and Fransesco". What a blistering opening this album has, it's instantly in your face, fast, furious, heavy and as exciting as you could wish for. Breathtaking guitar and keyboard solos blend in with the occasional quiet interlude, progressive rock and metal with classical overtones. Track 2, "Piano Overture", also  demonstrates this to perfection with manic piano solos of which you don't hear too often. The pace does drop just a touch for track 3, "Time Will Tell", to let the chorals take over, occasionally giving this track an air of grandeur but before you know it your back into the superb manic presentation that this man is capable of. There is also depth of emotion shown with the inclusion of the piano recital "Phantom Flurries" (one of two bonus tracks), "Illusions", an atmospheric and reflective piece, "Far From Home" with its more laid-back light approach, although it is still electrifying, and finally the second bonus track "Idol Tribute", another piano recital where Vitalij pays homage to his classical hero. This album is always melodic and portrays emotion far beyond the norm. One can imagine Vitalij Kuprij playing this with "steam breaking on his brow" as his hands move at the speed of light. This is the only album I have heard by this artist, even so he shoots straight into EPRR's Hall Of Fame at the speed of light; this is amazing stuff. 100% European Progressive Rock Reviews http://www.tandet.freeserve.couk

Vitalij Kuprij Piano & keyboards Guest musicians George Bellas, Michael Romeo, Michael Harris, Jeff Kollman, Javier Leal, Roger Staffelbach, Borislav Mitic and Fransesco. The Album Forward And Beyond Tracks Forward And Beyond: 5.58 Piano Overture: 5.36 Time Will Tell: 6.55 Variation In D Minor: 5.02 Far From Home: 6.36 Phantom Flurries: 1.09 Solar Impact: 5.02 Illusions: 2.57 Message Of Hope: 5.50 Idol Tribute: 6.47 Please click here For Lion Music's website