Canyoner – Disarmer EP
Canyoner – Disarmer EP
Self-Released
Date: 04/10/2024
Running Time: 18:00
Review by Metalphysicist
8/10
Formed in 2021, Canyonner is a NYC based project that recently released “Disarmer”, an EP written and performed and produced by Joe Henao, who is a well-known artist in the NYC scene. The press kit tells us that the musician’s main value is to keep himself in an open-minded musical approach during the composing of “Disarmer”, under the influence of Mastodon and Cloudkicker. Joe’s guitar playing draws from an array of genres notably, Emo/Pop Punk, Acoustic singer-songwriter artists, and video game soundtracks.
To be honest, I don’t listen to Mastodon or Cloudkiker regularly, so I am going to review “Disarmer” by its content, and not by comparing the songs with similar bands/project’s around.
“Disarmer” is an instrumental EP delivering five intriguing songs, over 18 minutes long. I am always afraid, when I press play on a solo guitar album, that it’s going to be a kind of instrumental album whose guitar players have a usual propensity to play guitar solos as a type of performative musical juggling flamboyant guitar’s ambience. That kind of solo album seems to me like a guitar lesson that was prepared to humiliate guitar apprentices – it was exactly what happened to me, in the late 80s/90s, when I gave up being a guitarist because I had listened to so many solo albums performed by several disciples of guitar, such as Joe Satriani and Steve Morse. I was freaking out trying to play like them by following one tablature’s command.
To my relief, the production of “Disarmer” took care to superimpose several guitar solos and driving riffs with more emphasis on creating landscapes that sound lovely as a compositional proposal, and investing heavily on bass accompaniments, as heard on the song ‘Cont ‘ – an interstice to continue the album with mastery in ‘Steel, Sharpen Steel’ which features very heavy riffs over interesting musical tempo.
“Disarmed” is highly recommended to those who enjoy easy going instrumental songs that erupt through a bunch of layers of riffs, bass and drum sequences, that kindly advise the listener to open up creative processes to ignite what you are meant to be – not necessarily being a guitar pro…
TRACKLISTING:
01. Disarmer
02. This, The Lowest Location
03. Cont.
04. Steel, Sharpen Steel
05. The Venice Approach
LINE-UP:
Joe Henao
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of The Metalphysicist and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
