Biography

Let's start with my history as a guitarist....
I've been playing guitar for about 17 years, starting with playing a variety of rock and metal, moving to more technical interests, and eventually listening to and playing a lot of progressive metal, eastern music (let's face it, I grew up listening to indian music) and classical music.

After playing in many bands, I turned my hand to writing music and songs. During the progression from mainstream rock/metal to prog metal, I wrote Blood of Angels (1999) and City of Souls (2001), both of which have a strong eastern influence, yet sit on the border of mainstream and progressive metal.

The writing of Eastern Horizons and Savage Mountain were a little more convoluted, since, in 2003 I started writing new material that fell into the two categories of progressive/concept and mainstream metal quite distinctly.... hence the two albums. I expanded on the classical themes to create Savage Mountain (2004), and closed off the more mainstream pieces in Eastern Horizons (2003).

The latest chapter in my history as a guitarist is probably the most challenging to date, since the pace and clarity of Freedom (2005-6) was greater than any of the previous works, so my playing had to rise to the occasion. This led to a brief period of practise before deciding it was time to write a few more progressive pieces.

2008 heralds the coming a new project, The Ninth Circle, where I am experimenting with odd scale pairings, which is an idea that I have been toying with for some time. The idea that the rhythm section can play in one scale and the lead section can play in another, maybe over an odd meter is something that I first touched upon in Insomnia, but an idea that has become something that I wish to expand. Watch this space for more info as the story unfolds...

Guitars

For the people interested in 'tech' out there, I use an Ibanez S470 with stock pickups and a Jackson Concept (with a Dimarzio X2N in the bridge position), both tuned down a whole tone (ie to DGCFAD). The rest of my rig that consisted of a Marshall Mode Four and various compressors/gates has now been replaced by the Line 6 Vetta II Head going through two 4x12's.

Drums

For the drummers in the audience, I use Sabian AAX cymbals (that's 14" stage hats, 16" stage crash, a china, a splash which I think is 8", and a ride which I think is 20"), a Tama Iron Cobra and a mixed tom set up, with 8", 10", 12", 13", 16" toms, a 14" snare and a variety of percussion (bongos, cowbells etc). This kit is essentially the same kit I use for all the Zangryus stuff and all the Sacred Divide stuff.

Bass

No pictures here, I'm afraid, but I use an Ibanez Soundgear bass and a Laney combo when recording bass.

Sitar

I have a sitar and play it, most notably, on Fall from Grace. Pics coming soon.