Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Impellitteri - System X - reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1. Rock And Roll Heroes 2. Perfect Crime 3. End Of The World 4. Shes A Nighttime Lover 5. Slow Kill 6. Why Do They Do That 7. United We Stand 8. Gotta Get Gome 9. What Kind Of Sanity 10. Falling In Love With A Stranger

Man, I just love this guy. Chris Impellitteri defines everything that is great about a guitar. The noise that he can make with this instrument, the melody, the craftsmanship, the absolute razor-sharp speed in which he can deliver the ultimate riff, precise and to the point with enough velocity to shatter the sound barrier. Chris has style, diversity, and an unmatched passion to play hard rocking metal.

System X is the follow-up to the groundbreaking Crunch, a record that I hold in high regards. With System X, Chris has went back to Graham Bonnet, who sang on the band's 1999 release, Stand In Line. I'm a huge fan of Rob Rock doing the vocals for Impellitteri, but I really think System X works with Bonnet on the mike this time. Songs like She's A Nightime Lover and Falling In Love With A Stranger really fit Bonnet's singing style. Other tracks like United We Stand, penned for the 911 tragedy, really swing the hammer, delivering an earth shattering groove that can only be recognized as Chris Imellitteri.

Tracks such as the neo-classical Slow Kill and the high-strung Rock & Roll Heroes really mix it up nicely, leaving the listener with plenty of meat-and-potatoes rock and roll metal to fill his hungry appetite. All fans of Impellitteri are going to love this one, but I urge all fans of metal ranging from Pantera to Iron Maiden to check this guy out. His leads can put you in a coma, while heavy slab grooves will punch you in the teeth and leave you begging for more. This is what System X is all about baby!
--EC 03.07.03