Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB

Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB
Compilation album by Michael Angelo Batio
Released April 14, 2015 (2015-04-14)
Genre
Length 70:12
Label Rat Pak
Producer Michael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio chronology
Intermezzo
(2013)		 Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB
(2015)

Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB is a compilation album by American heavy metal musician Michael Angelo Batio. Released on April 14, 2015 by Rat Pak Records, it is a career retrospective featuring songs from many of Batio's previously released studio albums. Shred Force 1 was produced by Batio and features a wide range of guest musicians. The album registered on several Billboard charts.

Recording and production

Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB features tracks from many of Batio's previously released albums, as well as some previously unreleased tracks and re-recordings.[1] The songs feature numerous musical guests, including vocalist Todd La Torre, guitarists Dave Reffett and Mark Tremonti, bassists Chuck Garric and Rudy Sarzo, and drummer Bobby Rock.[2][3] Rat Pak Records selected the tracks to include on the collection, of which Batio has said he approved because "a lot of times artists can't even tell what's going to be the hit song".[3] The album was mixed and mastered by Chris Wisco at Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin.[2]

Promotion and release

The release of Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB was first announced in March 2015, described in a press release as a "career retrospective" which "highlights Michael's best work to date".[1] The previously unreleased recording of Rush's "What You're Doing" included on the album was made available for streaming upon its announcement,[1] as was the Intermezzo track "8 Pillars of Steel".[3] Speaking about the release, Batio described it as "the culmination of [his] best musical work".[1] As a promotion for Shred Force 1, Dean Guitars entered customers who pre-ordered the album into a prize draw to win an MAB1 Armored Flame guitar.[4]

Reception

Commercial

Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB charted on several Billboard charts, reaching number 2 on the Top Heatseekers chart,[5] number 11 on the Hard Rock Albums chart,[6] number 21 on the Independent Albums chart,[7] and number 39 on the Top Rock Albums chart.[8]

Critical

Media response to Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB was generally positive. Jeb Wright of the website Classic Rock Revisited described the album as "a pure slab of electric guitar mastery" and "a must have for all fans of the shred guitar genre".[9] Target Audience Magazine's Tillman Cooper praised it as "polished, beautiful, [and] awe-inspiring", highlighting the tribute tracks "Slowhand", "Diamond" and "R R R".[10]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Hands Without Shadows"  Michael Angelo Batio 5:27
2. "Burn" (Deep Purple cover)
 5:31
3. "Juggernaut"  
 4:38
4. "What You're Doing" (Rush cover)
 4:32
5. "8 Pillars of Steel"  
  • Batio
  • Marc McNally
9:11
6. "Call to Arms"  
  • Batio
  • Roan Reynolds
4:37
7. "2X Again"  Batio 5:43
8. "Slow Hand" (tribute to Eric Clapton)
 6:10
9. "Diamond" (tribute to Dimebag Darrell)
 5:08
10. "Rainforest"  Batio 5:25
11. "Gotta Run"  
 3:53
12. "No Boundaries"  Batio 3:50
13. "R R R" (tribute to Randy Rhoads)
 6:06
Total length:
 70:12
Notes

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rudy Sarzo, Mark Tremonti, Todd La Torre Guest On Michael Angelo Batio's 'Shred Force 1' Retrospective". Blabbermouth.net. March 6, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB (Media notes). Michael Angelo Batio. Rat Pak Records. 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Lello, Michael (March 25, 2015). "Michael Angelo Batio: Guitar Virtuoso Talks New 'Shred Force 1' Compilation And His Trademark Double Guitar [Exclusive Song Debut & Interview]". Headlines & Global News. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Michael Angelo Batio Releasing New Album, "Shred Force 1!"". Dean Guitars. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums". Michael Angelo Batio Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hard Rock Albums". Michael Angelo Batio Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Independent Albums". Michael Angelo Batio Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Top Rock Albums". Michael Angelo Batio Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Wright, Jeb. "Michael Angelo Batio - Shred Force 1 (The Essential MAB)". Classic Rock Revisited. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ Cooper, Tillman (April 14, 2015). "CD Review: 'Shred Force 1 (The Essential MAB)' by Michael Angelo Batio". Target Audience Magazine. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
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