Derek Sherinian is currently a member of one of the most exciting hard rock bands to come out in the last couple of decades, Black Country Communion, along with Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa and Glenn Hughes. His pedigree also includes being a member of Billy Idol’s band and a former member of Dream Theater. Somehow, Derek has found time to make, yet another, amazing solo album featuring some of the best guitar players on the planet.

Often accused of secretly desiring to be a rock god guitar hero, Sherinian is a rare breed – a keyboard player – that’s a fancy way of saying a guy who plays piano, who loves hard rock. Most keyboardists in hard rock bands tend to play sideman, or just punch a Hammond B3 to break up guitar solos. Not so with Sherinian, as this guy is the Steve Vai of keys. As odd as this sounds, Derek ROCKS on keyboards. His solo albums feature some of the hottest unison keyboard and guitar runs ever recorded. They also feature plenty of axe blasting solos and intricate and complex rhythms.

The CD starts out with one of the best tunes Derek has ever written, titled “Five Elements,” actually, he co-wrote it, with drummer extraordinaire, Simon Phillips, who lends his talents to the album.

Here is a list of the guitarists to appear on the album: Tony Macalpine (“Five Elements,” “Mercury 7”), Steve Lukather ("Mulholland,” “Euphoria,” “Seven Sins”), Steve Stevens (“Ghost Runner”, “Oceana”,), Doug Aldrich (“El Camino Diablo”) and Joe Bonamassa (“I Heard That”).

The entire album features breathtaking musicianship. The music ranges from soft and gentle to hard and heavy with everything in between. At moments it is jazzy and then it bangs you over the head with a guitar or keyboard solo that will drop your jaw.

If you’re a fan of instrumental music made for, and by, amazing musicians then this one is for you. Play it loud and often.