KIRK HAMMETT
Portals (Blackened)
With his primary employees having put across the impression that so-called “side projects” were a big no-no, it’s rather surprising to see Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett unleash his first solo EP Portals on the world. Perhaps it’s viewed by the ‘tallica camp as non-threatening, as Portals – four instrumental numbers totalling a little under half an hour – is pretty far removed from Hammett’s day job, or as far as you’d expect him to get at least.
That said, there are the soaring guitar solos we’ve come to expect from Hammett over the years, but Portals as a whole has more of a movie soundtrack feel to it, as big epic orchestral pieces collide with Pink Floyd-esque keyboards and bluesy guitars that speak more than any vocalist could. Not really a must-have for Metallica fans, but if you appreciate fine guitar work then Portals is definitely worth your time.
words CHRIS ANDREWS