Unitron
While stoner/groove metal band My Ruin seems to be on hiatus, the band's husband and wife duo of Mick and Tairrie B Murphy have dedicated themselves to releasing their own solo stuff. Tairrie B released her first solo hip-hop album since 1993 back in 2015, and now Mick Murphy (under the moniker of Neanderthal) has released his first solo album since 2007's Take the Ride.
While Mick Murphy has already proved himself to be a guitar virtuoso and one of the most underrated guitarists out there with plenty of My Ruin's material, he presents a very eclectic and varied album with Get a Move On. There's a little bit of something for everyone on this release, with styles ranging from bluesy stoner metal, thrash/speed metal, neo-classical metal, and even a bit of a punk attitude. It's all instrumental, as Murphy's guitar sings better than any vocalist could on this album.
Often times the styles blend together in one song, as his playing on My Ruin's albums did. He'll be playing bluesy stoner metal, and rival Yngwie Malmsteen at the same time with his neo-classical soloing. "Anti Pop Culture Manifesto" and "Alarm Bells" are great examples, as they are both groovy upbeat tracks, with very classically-styled solos. "Triptych" is pure neo-classical metal, which begins and ends with some of the best classical guitar playing I've heard in a while. "Party Knights" may very well be the most impressive song on the album, blending blues, funk, and thrash metal all while remaining coherent and infectiously catchy.
It's not all upbeat though, as there are some quite emotional moments on the album. "Euphonious Dissonance" blends somewhat of a bluesy-grunge sound with the atmosphere of some melodic doom metal to create an unsettling vibe. "Song for Sam III", which is dedicated to Mick Murphy's late brother Sam M Murphy III, does this best though. Its mix of brooding doom riffing, atmospheric somber harmonies, and bluesy soloing really brings home the emotional feeling.
Get a Move On is not a long album, only clocking in at about 35 minutes, but that helps it in leaving no room for filler and delivering a wide range of styles for any metalhead to find something to enjoy. The production has a nice raw garage rock tone to it, making the aggression sound that much heavier and harmonies that much more atmospheric. If you're looking for an eclectic album with a masterful blend of various styles, this is an essential listen. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!