Can a highly technical album of guitar virtuosity be NOT AT ALL tiring for listeners who aren’t musicians themselves and who aren’t specifically looking for technical prowess and intricacies in a release like this?
Oh, yes!
Even if it’s fully instrumental, without a single trace of vocals?
Oh, yes again — it definitely can!
And it pulls it off effortlessly, with what seems like tremendous ease — but make no mistake, there’s a LOT of hard work behind achieving something like this.
Well, this album is “Imaginary Gravity” by SOUND THE SIRENS and if you haven’t heard of Peter Karapatsas yet and you’re into shredding guitar virtuosity, then your day just got a whole lot better!
SOUND THE SIRENS is a project born during the COVID-19 pandemic — a US instrumental prog rock/metal act based in Boston, MA, headed by composer Peter Karapatsas. It all kicked off in 2020, with the first glimpse of his work arriving in early 2021 — the explosive self-titled debut, featuring none other than the legendary Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, PLANET X, SONS OF APOLLO) on the track “Montmartre”.
The second album, “The Shape of Sound”, landed a year and a half later, in October 2022, showcasing Peter Karapatsas delivering sharper, more aggressive playing, with an impressive palette of riffs and solos — without ever sacrificing melody for even a second. Joining him were Ron Sandhu (ALTERED MINDS), Pedro Fernandes, Scott Rage, and Alex King.
At the heart of SOUND THE SIRENS lies the restless and imaginative mind of its creator, who gazes at the modern instrumental music scene, with roots firmly planted in traditional and classical sounds, while keeping his eyes wide open to what’s coming next across the broader musical horizon.
“Imaginary Gravity” is the natural evolution of Peter Karapatsas’ personal sound — another soul-baring offering and a tangible testament to his tremendous skills, both as a composer and a performer. He plays all guitars, bass, programs the drums, and produces all the music, drawing inspiration from a variety of genres — primarily metal and rock, but also pop-punk, funk, and pop — with the aim of delivering a fierce yet uplifting assault on both the ears and the heart!
I’d dare say that the third album from SOUND THE SIRENS is the electric shock we all need — music that awakens you in the most positive way.
If names like JOE SATRIANI, MARTY FRIEDMAN, TONY MACALPINE, VINNIE MOORE, and STEVE VAI spring to mind, you’re absolutely on the right track! Throw in a bit of JOHN PETRUCCI and STEVE MORSE, maybe some late-era CYNIC and flashes of SPIRAL ARCHITECT, then blend it all in a mixer to create an amalgam that doesn’t sound like anyone else, yet retains all the soloing spirit through truly distinctive compositions.
And right here lies the secret and all the unique magic behind SOUND THE SIRENS: although Peter Karapatsas is a virtuoso and an outstanding guitarist, he doesn’t make music only for his peers, as often happens with the musician elite.
On the contrary, he offers an immediate, powerfully palpable joy accessible to everyone, channeling his dexterity and technique primarily into the service of songwriting and melody — ultimately delivering an album that carries all the marks of virtuosity, but with a form, style, and sound that makes it not just approachable but downright addictive, even to those not initiated into the genre.
Personally, it stands among the freshest and most entertaining listens I’ve had this year so far.
Mixing and mastering were handled by the great Joe Calderone, an experienced composer, arranger, and mixing engineer (also bassist for ARCH ECHO), while the stunning track “Wander” features a guest appearance by another guitar master, Italian maestro Marco Sfogli.
“Imaginary Gravity” has already been independently released in digital format.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can purchase the album here.
