There are great guitarists, great vocalists, and great songwriters, but MONTE PITTMAN is one of the elite few who can truly lay claim to all three titles. With his fourth full-length,Inverted Grasp Of Balance, he has once again raised the stakes, delivering a riveting collection of full force metal that showcases his continuing evolution, undoubtedly expanding his devout – and ravenous – fan base. “I knew exactly the album I wanted to make,” he states. “I wanted to make the heaviest and craziest music I ever have. I really feel that it’s an album that will grab you and demand your attention.” The results speak for themselves, and from the explosive thrash of opener “Panic Attack” through to the epic strains of closing track “New Blood Keeps Us Alive”, the quality doesn’t dip once, making this one of the most essential metal releases of 2016.
Teamed up with powerhouse drummer Richard Christy of Charred Walls Of The Damned/Iced Earth/Death fame and virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan, famous for his work with a plethora of extremely talented artists – including David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and, more recently, Winery Dogs – the skill of all concerned explodes from the speakers. With such passionate professionals and Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) handling production duties, the record came together quickly and smoothly, Pittman recording his guitar parts wherever he found himself while on the road. With unique artwork provided by Sean K Hughes – who PITTMAN met at a bar called The Black Rabbit in Melbourne, Australia – this really is the proverbial “whole package”: an album that has been lovingly crafted in all aspects, that he hopes reaches as many ears as possible. “Having Metal Blade on board for the entire process of creating this album has been incredible. Many people don’t know, but they came on board much later in the process on The Power of Three, and working alongside Brian Slagel, Mike Faley, and their amazing team has been a real treat. I had a true vision for this record from the start, and I couldn’t imagine a better team to help me realize it. We’re going to make some real noise with Inverted Grasp Of Balance – so get ready!” (excerpts from press release)
