Dom McGrillen - Galaxy

​Dom McGrillen

​Galaxy
self-released; 2015

3.1 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Dom McGrillen is an artist from Herefordshire, UK who recently released an album entitled Galaxy. At seventeen songs the album is extremely long and feels less like an album than mere ideas or improv sessions. Most of these sessions come in the form of lead guitar work, which you have heard that doesn’t contain enough emotional weight to engage you throughout.

The album starts with “Craze” which contains drums that are barely audible, a rhythm guitar and a lead guitar that is way too loud in the mix. McGrillen is a talented guitarist but after about a minute you need something else to grab your attention and it doesn't happen. As the song progresses there are some inspired leads but also some noticeable timing issues which McGrillen is going to have to work on. The next track “Shards” goes nowhere and has virtually no energy to it. If anything it could be used as a sleeping aid and I don’t say that as a bad thing.

The next two tracks “Cabin” and “Descend” are endless noodle sessions, which leave little to hold on to after they are gone. It’s more or less McGrillen showing off his guitar skills with some delay. “Come Home, Son” comes out of nowhere with vocals. To be blunt the vocals are way too loud in the mix. He has a decent voice but the recording quality isn't very good.

For some reason McGrillen decided to leave in the sound of the metronome as he endlessly solos on “Farewell.” The title track has some more energy but actually felt like vocals would have been an essential part to this song. As the album progresses McGrillen continues to flex his technical muscles on the guitar and not much else.

Truth be told Galaxy felt like I walked into a guitar center. Did you know the one or two guys in the store who are just soloing in hopes of someone paying attention? That prototype is always there and there's a reason that guy probably doesn't have a big following. McGrillen has chops on the guitar but needs to refine his skills as a songwriter and realize that people in general don't care how slick you are at pulling off a scale but would rather listen to music that touches a part of your heart.

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