Matt Gorney: Bass, Drums, Lead and Backing Vocals
John Gorney: Keyboards, Lead and Backing Vocals
Mark Mistysyn: Guitars, Lead and Backing Vocals
Excruciating marks a return to form for veteran rockers Shitar.
Though some of their recents efforts have been good, they lacked the
chemistry and cohesiveness found here. The disc opens with Mad
Melody a John Gorney rocker featuring some of Mark Mistysyn's
best guitar work ever. Mistysyn seems to have snapped out of the
fretboard funk that's plagued him for the past couple of years.
Despite only one full writing credit, Mistysyn's contributions are immeasurable.
The album explores various musical genres and themes, and even contains
an honest-to-God drinking song -- Live For Today
-- which is the album closer. The Jazz arena is entered in Matt's
All Over Again, a song that harkens back to
That's Life from his solo album. Still,
what initially made Shitar a legend was that intangible weaving of melody,
and harmony that forever buries itself in your skull. When
it Comes to the Heart is easily the catchiest Shitar tune
recorded in years. Ironically, Shitar also includes a remake
of one of their earliest catchy numbers, Second Fiddle.
Excruciating also contains the trademark heavy songs we've become accostomed
to over the years. Tough ecclectic in style, songs like Underneath,
Gone For Good, Bittersweet
and Sex and Love are peppered throughout the
album. For pure lovers of harmony, check out the outro solo in
the anthematic Sex and Love. Shitar
is back.
