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Don Madison - Riff Architect
Review By Dude Rockstar
Email: bigbadmoon777@hotmail.com

At GuitarWar.Com, Don Madison is "ChipShank67".  The nickname alludes to his love of golf.  At his website, Don says he gave up guitar for six years to pursue his golf "addiction".

Madison is a throwback to days of throw-down.  Remember when "every" metal guitarist played a Charvel or Kramer?  Yeah, those were the days.  And, who can forget how the heaviest players had cartoons of cute characters painted on their axe? 

I devised a scale to decipher the relative heaviness of an upcoming band.  If the guitarists had bunnies, the music would be heavy.  Bunnies equaled heavy.

Please, note the carrot-wielding rabbit on Don Madison's guitar.

Where would Don Madison be right now if he'd played guitar instead of golf for those six years?  He'd be at the forefront of the new wave of riff-oriented metal.

Don's style is tight, aggressive, and polished.  His music punishes with a blow from the malicious hand of a sadistic overlord.

His newest tune, "Madcow" (Anthrax cover) is proof.  The opening riffs display right-handed quickness that harkens back to Metallica's genre-defining "Ride the Lightning".  The jack-hammer attack continues for a breath-defying 1:55. 

After a short lead break the riffing begins again at 2:38.  And, I'll tell you what, I would bet almost anything that his right-hand is even more tight and surgeonesque than at the start.

One reviewer known as "SenorX" says of Madison's "Madcow", "My god man, this song kicks my a$$. When I first listened to it, I about broke something in my living room."

Madison's strength lies also in the fingers of his left hand.  He is a capable and, at times, world-class lead player.

"Archangels"  (a tune you should download from Madison's site) is 3:37 of mature workmanship.  Carefully crafted harmonized melodies panned hard-left and hard-right introduce us to the "Vinnie Moore" side of Don Madison.  From the intro to the close, Madison shows his command of several requisite metal-guitar techniques.

:12 to :24 is a fluid, slippery, legato-flavored bridge where I found myself asking, "This is the same guy who blasted his way through 'Madcow'?" 

I am particularly moved by Madison's alternate picking skills.  It's no surprise that his right hand is so adept.  His left hand keeps up nicely.  The run doubled run from :57 to 1:00 is evidence that Madison is no slouch in the alt-picking department.

At 1:47, Don fools my ears.  He adds a unique organ - sounding - guitar - hammer - thing into the mix.  (That's the best I can do.)   Check it out yourself.  Very unique.  I'd love to know how Don played that part.

My favorite section in the song is the 2:12 to 2:24 alt-picked flurry.  Tight, accurate, quick, and melodic.  The definition of "head cutting".

Look, Don Madison will not be everyone's everything.  But, that's not his gig anyway.  Remember, the dude took six years off for golf!  No, Madison plays what he plays out love for the genre. 

If you love riff-oriented, progressive-leaning, melodic metal, Don Madison's panzer assault should be on your most-listened list.  And, drop Don an email if you will.  Ask him to spend less time on the golf course and more time on his music.

The world of metal guitar needs a hero.  Madison could be the one.