Year : 2025
Style : Guitar instrumental
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 74 mb
Bio:
Michael Stephen Shouse, born on September 27, 1970, in Jackson, KY, is a twin, sharing his birthday with his brother Charles, who works in video production. After completing high school, Shouse earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Art Education from Morehead State University.In 1992, Shouse moved to Los Angeles to attend the renowned Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, where he refined his musical talents. After his stint in LA, he returned to Kentucky and has spent the last 18 years teaching art. He furthered his education by obtaining a master’s degree in Nude Figure Drawing from both the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University.Shouse has also made significant contributions to the music and art community through his writings. He has authored articles and lessons for various online platforms, including chopsfromhell.com and guitar9.com, and has been featured in prominent publications like Progression, Fireworks, and The Sound Guitar magazines.Shouse taught guitar at the Music Institute of Lexington, KY, and wrote a monthly column for Music Entertainment Magazine. His music career includes the release of his Debut album “Enter the Soul” on September 4, 2001. The track “Man” from this album was included in the compilation CD “International Anthems: Volume 1” in 2002.For his second album “Alone on the Sun,” Shouse dropped his first name the album was released in June 2010, and received widespread acclaim. The title track was highlighted on the compilation CD “Gods of Indie Guitar 2011,” earning Shouse the title of “Best Overall” from over 1000 global submissions.In 2020, Shouse announced the upcoming recording of a new CD, featuring a stellar lineup of musicians: Charlie Zeleny, a top-tier drummer from New York known for his work with Drumageddon and Terry Bozzio; James Amelio Pulli, a seasoned bassist from Los Angeles associated with Chris Impellitteri; and LeeLoo, a dynamic female vocalist from Barcelona, Spain. The album’s mixing and mastering will be handled by Billy Decker, a renowned expert from Nashville. The project is set for release by the end of 2024, along with accompanying videos.Shouse was born Michael Stephen Shouse on September 27th, 1970 in Jackson, KY. He was born a twin to brother Charles, who works in video production. After high school, he graduated with a bachelors degree in Secondary Art Education from Morehead State University.In 1992, he moved to LA and attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood. He returned to Kentucky, where he has taught art for the last 18 years. He received his master’s degree in Nude Figure drawing from the University of Kentucky and Morehead State. Furthermore, he has written articles and lessons on online sites such as chopsfromhell.com and guitar9.com and has been featured in magazines like Progression, Fireworks, and The Sound guitar magazines.Mike teaches guitar at the Music Institute of Lexington, KY, and writes a monthly article in the Music Entertainment Magazine.He released “Enter the Soul” in 2001 and “Man” was on a compilation CD “International Anthems: Volume 1” in 2002. “Alone on the Sun” was released in Jun 2010 and has gotten rave reviews worldwide. The title track “Alone on the sun” has been featured on the compilation CD “Gods of Indie Guitar 2011”. Shouse was chosen “Best overall” from over 1000 submissions from all over the world.Announcing that I’ll start recording a new CD in a couple of weeks. I’ve got great musicians on board. On drums, the best of the best, from NY, Charlie Zeleny (Drumageddon and Terry Bozzio). On bass, from Los Angeles, James Amelio Pulli (Chris Impellitteri). Female vocalist from Barcelona, Spain, LeeLoo. Finally, the best mix and master guy in the business, from Nashville, Billy Decker. Hopefully, I’ll have it out by the end of 2021 and videos.
Album:
After a fifteen-year hiatus, rock guitarist Mike Shouse has returned with Jaded, a striking instrumental album that bridges decades of rock and metal influence with bold technical precision. Known for his critically acclaimed Alone on the Sun and a winner of the 2011 Gods of Indie Guitar competition, Shouse’s reemergence is nothing short of triumphant. This time, he’s armed with a powerhouse rhythm section, Charlie Zeleny (Jordan Rudess, Terry Bozzio) on drums and James Pulli of Impellitteri fame on bass, and supported by a guest lineup of legendary guitarists including Michael Angelo Batio, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Tony MacAlpine. The result is a masterclass in guitar-led storytelling with not a lyric in sight.The album opens with (Prelude) Romeo and Juliet and Romeo Is Gone, setting the tone for what’s to come. A slow, dramatic synth fade-in makes way for an aggressive guitar line that cuts like a sword. It’s intense, theatrical, and almost Black Sabbath in its doom-laced grit. Batio’s guest solo elevates the track into full-blown shredder territory, and Zeleny’s rapid-fire drums give the piece a relentless energy. It’s the sound of war, heartbreak, and power all clashing in one explosive opening salvo.A Bitter Cold continues the energy, showcasing Shouse’s deft command of speed and technique. The opening riff fades smoothly into a barrage of finger-picked licks and hammer-ons. It’s a cold, biting song that feels like a blizzard of notes, sharp and deliberate.Let’s Go breaks from tradition with a bold bass-forward mix. Pulli’s playing is front and centre, a rare treat in a genre that often buries the bass under layers of guitar and effects. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal delivers a piercing solo, while the guitar screams and sings in tandem. Shouse’s fretwork remains the undeniable centrepiece, proving that vocals are unnecessary when the guitar itself speaks so fluently. Adlibs like “let’s go!” are peppered in, but otherwise, the instruments carry the full narrative.Smiley Faced Emoji marks a shift in tone. Softer in execution but not in craft, the track leans more toward classic rock than hard-edged metal. There’s a layered depth here, background guitar work adds texture and warmth while the lead guitar takes a slower, more melodic approach. At times, it feels like the song could belong on a 90s film soundtrack, channeling emotion through distortion and phrasing rather than speed or volume.Then there’s Bucket of Bolts, a sci-fi rock opera in miniature. Opening with what sounds like robotic chatter and the hum of a space engine, it quickly transforms into a heavy, cosmic jam. Guitars mimic machinery, solos weave like interstellar radio signals, and it all feels like a musical space battle. The band leads us as the crew of this imagined starship, navigating through the chaos with control and style.The title track Jaded is a nod to early 2000s hard rock, before diving headfirst into a Metallica-influenced storm of riffage. It’s a powerful piece that begs to be played with your eyes closed, a sonic rollercoaster of nostalgia, attitude, and sheer talent. The distinctly American tone of the instruments grounds the piece in a familiar, gritty world.Memoriam pulls back the curtain to reveal something far more personal. A piano joins the arrangement, and the tempo slows to a meditative pace. It’s mournful, beautiful, and introspective. Shouse plays every part here, and the result is an emotional interlude that shows his depth not just as a technician but as an artist.Finally, Upon Looking Back closes the album with a bright, brisk energy. There’s an 80s glimmer to the track’s intro, almost pop-leaning, before the familiar power of the lead guitar takes over. It blends eras, styles, and tones effortlessly, and the driving beat, once again led by Zeleny’s crisp drumming, keeps the pulse fast and firm.Jaded is an instrumental odyssey that doesn’t need vocals to say everything it wants to say. Mike Shouse proves that time away has only sharpened his skills and deepened his creative voice.Score is excellent – With flawless production, genre-blending compositions, and virtuosic performances from every contributor, this album is both a technical marvel and a heartfelt journey. Whether you’re a metalhead, a classic rock purist, or simply a fan of world-class guitar playing, Jaded delivers something both familiar and fresh. It’s a long-awaited return that was worth every minute of the wait.
Line Up:
Michael Stephen Shouse - All Guitars, Bass, Keyboards & Vocals
+ guests:
Michael Angelo Batio - Vocals and guitars (Ex-Nitro)
Tony MacAlpine - Guitars - See also: Seven the Hardway, ex-M.A.R.S., Devil's Slingshot, ex-Ring of Fire, ex-Vinnie Moore, ex-Planet X, ex-Vitalij Kuprij, ex-CAB, ex-Lodestar
Gene Booth - Additional Vocals
Dwight Dunlap, Greg Strouse, Joey Sanchez, Charlie Zeleny, Diego Meraviglia - Drums & Percussion
Jason Poff, Trip Wamsley, Sean Taylor, Scott Hubbell, Alun Vaughan, Kyle Honea, Byron Santo, Josh Kerr and Travis Nichols - Bass
Tracklist:
01. Romeo and Juliet (Prelude)
02. Romeo Is Gone (feat. Michael Angelo Batio)
03. A Bitter Cold
04. Let’s Go (feat. Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal)
05. Smiley Faced Emoji
06. Bucket of Bolts
07. Jaded
08. Memoriam
09. Upon Looking Back (feat. Tony MacAlpine)
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