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THIS NEW JOHN 5 TRACK RIPS. WAIT… WHAT???

 Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:30pm by

john 5 - the art of maliceOf all the track debuts that floated into my inbox yesterday I was definitely NOT expecting the one by Rob Zombie / ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 to impress in any way, shape or form. But leave it up to MS Master Josh Kidd to insist we listen to John 5′s new track “The Nightmare Unravels,” from his forthcoming solo album The Art of Malice, which you can stream below [thanks: Bmouth].

Turns out the dude can absolutely rip on the guitar — I literally had no idea. I assumed that because he’s spent the better part of his career playing simple riffs in goth and sleaze rock bands that that’s all he was capable of; shame on me. “The Nightmare Unravels” is a shred-sterpiece that’s something I’d expect to hear on the new Levi / Werstler album or anything else on the Magna Carta roster. I feel like an even bigger douche because apparently John 5 played with David Lee Roth, so dude’s obviously got chops.

I guess now would be a good time for me to go and catch up on John 5′s FOUR previous solo albums before the new one comes out this Spring.

-VN

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  • BetterThanEzra

    Parts of this sound like a ripoff of trilogy suite

    • Tyler11

      I thought the exact same thing.

      • Kuranes

        Oops, I guess I should stop being Tyler11 now.

  • Gil Smash

    He did some cool shit for I think it was Guitar World magazine awhile ago for the Bet You Cant Play This section. Pretty sick shit.

  • dwgregory1

    Oh yeah! Great Player. Got make a living some way…

  • The Overmatt

    I was already a fan of his solo stuff but DAMN, that was cool.

  • Johnny

    hes a sick country player also. guy has played with the alman brothers and even written songs for lynyrd skynyrd.

  • Johnny

    hes a sick country player also. guy has played with the alman brothers and even written songs for lynyrd skynyrd.

  • Double D

    Dang Vince, I’m surprised you didn’t know this dude was a shredder. I mean, you don’t float around the bands he has without having some type of musical ability. (Although I’m sure you guys could name me some exceptions)

  • ShreddistVonShredstein

    John is one of the most musically diverse and talented guitarists around. He can literally play anything. You should have known of his talent before now but you owe it to yourself to listen to his other albums, this track is good but some of the stuff on his last two albums is even better.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bobby-Tims/1313713879 Bobby Tims

    it was better than i would have thought, but dear GOD that production is AWFUL. it sounds like the drums are in the building across the street

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bobby-Tims/1313713879 Bobby Tims

      or being recorded from the building across the street, for that matter.

      • Lenny

        or your sound system is just AWFUL crap .

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Sean-Heron/9391234 Ryan Sean Heron

    if the dude can rip like this, then why is his playing in Rob Zombie’s band so bland and boring?

    • The Overmatt

      I don’t think he writes most of what happens with that band.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      You really think Rob Zombie lets his musicians write?

  • http://dmxrr15@hotmail.com IsntaTOTALdouchebag10

    I can’t believe his solo stuff is just barely getting props on here. His last solo album was crazy. This guy can literally play anything, as some above have mentioned he is also an accomplished country and blues player. As far as playing with Rob Zombie…on the last tour I saw him on, John 5 played a solo for like 10 minutes and it was absolutely insane. But yeah Rob Zombie pays the bills so why not?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

    how did you not know john 5 could shred? i mean he’s got countless solo albums out and about a million youtube videos of him shredding.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

    how did you not know john 5 could shred? i mean he’s got countless solo albums out and about a million youtube videos of him shredding.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-John-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason John Crispen

    he’s got quite a few solo albums out and tons of videos of him shredding on youtube. can’t believe you’re just now catching wind of his shredability.

  • John

    Am I the only one that wasn’t impressed with the fact that this dude can alternate pick and sweep?

    • Ziltoid

      I wasn’t impressed either. It was catchy, and that is all. Not “mindblowing” or anything. Next thing you know, MS will suddenly “learn” about Ron Jarzombek or something…

    • afrost

      you make it sound like it’s easy to do it that fast and CLEANLY. John 5 is a monster. Guy needs to get rid of his telecaster though and move onto something with decent metal tone =/

      • MSalonen

        Agreed on the first point, but not the second.

        Why? The Telecaster is his thing, and he happens to have one of the biggest collections of them in the world. Besides, metal tone is in your hands and the amp far more than it is in the guitar.

      • fuzzyshan

        the only thing his guitar has in common with a telecaster is the shape.

      • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

        Yeah, his custom teles are insane for metal tones. He also plays country style, which would explain the tele… and his custom also gives great tone for that.

      • fenderbender

        Johnny will never get rid of his tele, man! Check out his collection! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPGjhuD2wkE

  • justin bieber

    SOOTHSAYERS BETTER

  • crapper

    sounds like metallica. suicide and redemption type shit

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Sterner/1335958279 Andrew Sterner

      Don’t ever have that shit and John 5 in the same sentence again, please. I threw up when I read that. Eww.

    • puppy balls

      Yes defo sounds like Metallica’s sucide and redemption

  • Che Guitarra

    The guy is great. I got his first album, vertigo, simply outta curiosity. The man can shred like mad and can chicken pick like a sum’bitch. He’s traditionally a country trained player, and actually cowrote with Lynard Skynard for their last album. His take on traditional country jams is great. This guy has talent to spare, and doesn’t just shred, he also has great musicality. I’m honestly surprised you had no idea, Vince. For shame!

  • Timbodini

    If you’re just getting in to his solo stuff (no one cares about MM or Rob Zombie) “The Devil Knows My Name” is his best album in my opinion and a good place to start.

    • Beauzaque

      Awesome album all the way through.

    • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

      There was a song on there featuring Jim Root from Slipknot. I was surprised how hard Jim could rip it up like that. Whoever says he isn’t talented is full of shit.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjm9V9SLlIE

      I couldn’t tell you which solos Jim’s doing, but it’s all crazy.

  • Frampler

    Do you even read your own site? I learned from Metalsucks that John 5 could shred when he was being discussed as a possible guitarist for Ozzy.

  • Brian \m/(-_-)\m/

    this song makes me headbang. a lot

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Brady/5027798 Michael Brady

    I love the random comments about how his shredding isn’t all that impressive. What’s impressive isn’t his technique so much as the fact that he works it into a quality song. This guy is nowhere near, say, Michael Angelo Batio when it comes to searing fretwork, but he’s a better songwriter by far.

  • Genial Gentile

    OK… I get it that this guy can play the hell out of the guitar, but his persona and the “artists” that he has chosen to collaborate with in the past make it sooo difficult to take him seriously.

    • Chris

      The same could be said of Buckethead, but he’s pretty highly regarded in the metal community. That being said, I agree with you. I feel like his persona is a bit gimmicky and it probably prevents a lot of people from even listening to him. Then again, why don’t we criticize all guitarists who grow out their hair and take on a distinctly metal appearance? That could be considered just as gimmicky. It’s too bad that image so often determines whether we do or do not give a musician/band a chance…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Hulsey/653830783 David Hulsey

    Yep the dudes a fucking shredder. Pretty surprised you didn’t know about that.

  • Sammy

    Where have you been Vince? J5 is unbelievably good, both as a technical player, shredder and writer. And his music crosses genres between and within songs. The silly makeup aside, he usually seems like a fairly “normal” and grounded guy.

    • KilledyDeath

      Guys at ms really have no clue. They misspell Randy Rhoads’ name, they’ve got old news all the fucking time. Half the posts seem to be written by none other than captain Obvious. Their taste is questionable. And yet i return to this page. Even though i hate it. I guess i just lack self-respect. Fuck me. And fuck ms.

      • KilledByDeath

        And now i misspell my nickname. Instant karma.

      • TBO

        Tell me about it. This entire blog always seems like it is being written by three douches who just discovered how “cool” metal is last year. Between “discovering” blatantly common knowledge shit like “Wow! Have you guys heard of this Yngwie Malmsteen guy! He’s like a very skilled guitar player!” or hyping ridiculous trends like those Bear wrestling douchebags or “Djent” or whatever is..oh well, I’ve been around metal long enough to have once worked with Concrete Marketing and there were young marketing execs that were thrilled about “Mucky Pup” and saying “Wow have you heard this Judas Priest fellow” even back then. the MS douches are the same flavor.

        • KilledByDeath

          Exactly. Men like Eddie Trunk is an example of a proper metal journalist. He knows the story/family trees/trends, you name it. And no douchery. Just an opinion. But this site has a feel of a teenager temporarily obsessed with something but never really getting any deeper into it.

          • KilledByDeath

            Aaaaaaaand improper use of plural :/

          • Brian \m/(-_-)\m/

            KBD, you are just really off today huh? lol

        • Sammy

          TBO and KilledbyDeath, while I chastised Vince for not knowing about J5 until now, I have to totally disagree with you guys regarding Vince and Axl’s metal knowledge. I’m about 100% sure these guys know their shit, have been metal fans since they were pre-teens, and care deeply about the genre now. Sure, they sometimes show some weird tastes and yes, they take sophomoric humor to new levels in their disdain for certain bands and individuals, but that is just part of the schtick of this site.

          But taste is taste. It’s subjective and personal.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      J5 is the robot in blankman. Awesome movie.

  • http://www.myspace.com/stonecuttersky Cliff

    I heard Brent Hinds was learning some licks from him a few years ago on Ozzfest. Probably some chicken picken. John 5 is defiantly a badass and seems like a cool dude too.

  • braincake

    i love this guy. i have never heard anyone play with the sustained picking speed as i have on soul of a robot….
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtOg8TUnKco
    the solo kicks ass in that track as well.

    then he throws down some hillbilly picking…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I29miaqhTOs&feature=related

    amazing player.

  • Viking_xxx

    John 5 can rip. It is known. But why comment on his new solo stuff and not Marc Rizzo (a la Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy)? He is a superior guitarist in my opinion.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      Marc Rizzo sucks ass. Go watch his betcha can’t play this video for proof. Then go listen to a soulfly record.

  • I AM THOR

    Yeah – the guy’s amazing. Has an eclectic sensibility and can shred.

  • FrostMechanic

    I thought everyone knew John 5 could rip. Songs for Sanity and The Devil Knows My Name are two of my favorite shred albums.

  • Joshington

    John 5′s solo stuff has always been awesome