IDk all the fuss ,that's not a very intuitive riff and doesn't sound all that great either.To me it is just average stuff,i still think David Valdes is a better writer and player.
I picked up Anthem's album 'Heavy Metal Anthem' with Graham Bonnet and saw this picture of young guy with blonde hair in the booklet. Thinking who the hell is this guy? Why Anthem hired this funky looking guy? Played the CD and blown away. He was AKIO SHIMIZU. Anthem went through several guitarists and he's the best among them. Japan has so many great guitarists, but I tell you what Akio fits perfectly with Anthem.
I picked up Anthem's album 'Heavy Metal Anthem' with Graham Bonnet and saw this picture of young guy with blonde hair in the booklet. Thinking who the hell is this guy? Why Anthem hired this funky looking guy? Played the CD and blown away. He was AKIO SHIMIZU. Anthem went through several guitarists and he's the best among them. Japan has so many great guitarists, but I tell you what Akio fits perfectly with Anthem.
actaually learn song by ear or tab won´t help you to grow as a guitarrist the only way to be better is to studie music 'cause when you take a song by ear or tab you really don´t know how to use the scales or anithing like that well you just memorize the song like you think is ok and sometimes the way someone play the song is harder than the original because of the tab or the ear so try to studie a little to be a great guitarrist
its just like America, people arent interested in metal or guitars like sean6201 said, popular music is taking over, and masterpieces like this is becoming a lost art.
id rather him be underground where his music will maintain its flavor forever, then be mixed with the "popular" music where everything gets really overrated and, dried out quickly. its not that hes, not recognized or, not appreciated. obviously his music IS appreciated because if it wasnt he wouldnt be where he is right now
this is still considered popular music. Basically anything that isn't straight classical (including traditional music) or jazz is 'popular'; although Jazz is becoming pretty mainstream again like it was in the 40's and 50's. Pop is something different than popular music. Pop would be considered the corporate subgenre of popular music; prepackaged groups/artists meant to cash in on general interest of a certain demographic. Nevertheless, Anthem is one of my favorite bands period.
I have to add though, unless you really haven't done much homework in the last couple years, you'd see A LOT of great players are showing up, and great guitar playing in general is becoming a norm. I remember an article in the early 00's talking about the return of blistering guitar solos and how all the big players from the 90's were getting their chops back in shape to keep up with all the younger cats coming out and shredding away. Check out Justin Derrico in Pink's band..that guy is NASTY
Man, Akio is so amazing! He's definitelly one of the greatest Metal guitarists out there... Too bad that, like most of the japanese guitarists, he doesn't get the fame he deserves...
you're right, it's a shame those guitarists are not recognized. It's probably because metal/electric guitars are not as common on media as it is in North America or Europe.. i know it cos I'm from Japan, and you RARELY find a person who's into metal n electric guitars. most of the population have succumbed to J-pop lol.
Yeah, but you would think that with Marty Friedman doing J-pop in Japan that it would bring some interest in the guitar, and guitar music in general in Japan.
@TaijiSawadaFan You don't need fame to validate how truly great or talented you really are. If this guy never gets noticed in the mainstream industry does that make him any less awesome or entertaining ? I doubt you're gonna let that stop you from listening to him.
@FallenInAdam I agree, mate. I just think it's a shame so many great musicians are ignored just because they're from a different country or a different culture.
I don't recognise the guitar he's using, beyond the fact that it's an ESP.
Can anyone provide any details? Cheers.
Karmoon7 1 week ago
Please!! do you have the tabs or guitar pro?¿¿? It wold be priceless! ive wanted to play this song for a couple of years!! Thank you
JavierPiquer 2 months ago
IDk all the fuss ,that's not a very intuitive riff and doesn't sound all that great either.To me it is just average stuff,i still think David Valdes is a better writer and player.
galkanftw 4 months ago
any tabs for this ? i'd love to learn it :)!
jimmybob1 8 months ago
this is hardcore. i'd like him to be my tutor.
deanNkamura 9 months ago
these days, its so hard to see this kind of guitarrist, creative like him.
rfl9875321 10 months ago
Great, very good
rfl9875321 10 months ago
reminds me of george lynch
LCNRC 10 months ago
master! the resolutions to his riffs are beautiful
dcdeal001 11 months ago
beautiful
sgrouge 1 year ago
akio is a great guitar player .....he is not boring like others more techics.....and nerds guitars
aronmarrano 1 year ago
Damn that was Beautiful.
cdleonv2 1 year ago
1:10-1:45 is my favorite part, it sounds awesome! He is an amazing guitarist.
Destroysall 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I picked up Anthem's album 'Heavy Metal Anthem' with Graham Bonnet and saw this picture of young guy with blonde hair in the booklet. Thinking who the hell is this guy? Why Anthem hired this funky looking guy? Played the CD and blown away. He was AKIO SHIMIZU. Anthem went through several guitarists and he's the best among them. Japan has so many great guitarists, but I tell you what Akio fits perfectly with Anthem.
s13tx 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I picked up Anthem's album 'Heavy Metal Anthem' with Graham Bonnet and saw this picture of young guy with blonde hair in the booklet. Thinking who the hell is this guy? Why Anthem hired this funky looking guy? Played the CD and blown away. He was AKIO SHIMIZU. Anthem went through several guitarists and he's the best among them. Japan has so many great guitarists, but I tell you what Akio fits perfectly with Anthem.
s13tx 1 year ago
Comment removed
s13tx 1 year ago
The song is Insomnia.. I do have to say that Akio is one of the best guitarists ive heard in awhile. Rock on
kondrath88 2 years ago
akio simizu.excellent guitarist.like many japanese guitarists.!i like anthem yeha.!!!
heavyrockxx 2 years ago
song name \ title ?!
eyecipher 2 years ago
uiuuuh. He uses a maxon od9. It can't be a ts9 because that is a little darker green
Rapadi87 2 years ago
actaually learn song by ear or tab won´t help you to grow as a guitarrist the only way to be better is to studie music 'cause when you take a song by ear or tab you really don´t know how to use the scales or anithing like that well you just memorize the song like you think is ok and sometimes the way someone play the song is harder than the original because of the tab or the ear so try to studie a little to be a great guitarrist
jhonas43 2 years ago
0:52 - 1:09 that was so dark ._.
It goes along with the song name lol.
Akio is a beast
shikato99 2 years ago
cool
ece20231 2 years ago
thats not true guitar is more popular now that was in the 90's (if you go by sale figures)
GuysSeriously 2 years ago
why hae i never heard of this guy??????????
diediedie606 2 years ago
its just like America, people arent interested in metal or guitars like sean6201 said, popular music is taking over, and masterpieces like this is becoming a lost art.
guitarboy64 2 years ago 2
i agree XD
nucence258 2 years ago
id rather him be underground where his music will maintain its flavor forever, then be mixed with the "popular" music where everything gets really overrated and, dried out quickly. its not that hes, not recognized or, not appreciated. obviously his music IS appreciated because if it wasnt he wouldnt be where he is right now
poopdood321JP 2 years ago
this is still considered popular music. Basically anything that isn't straight classical (including traditional music) or jazz is 'popular'; although Jazz is becoming pretty mainstream again like it was in the 40's and 50's. Pop is something different than popular music. Pop would be considered the corporate subgenre of popular music; prepackaged groups/artists meant to cash in on general interest of a certain demographic. Nevertheless, Anthem is one of my favorite bands period.
RNRDOLL 2 years ago
I have to add though, unless you really haven't done much homework in the last couple years, you'd see A LOT of great players are showing up, and great guitar playing in general is becoming a norm. I remember an article in the early 00's talking about the return of blistering guitar solos and how all the big players from the 90's were getting their chops back in shape to keep up with all the younger cats coming out and shredding away. Check out Justin Derrico in Pink's band..that guy is NASTY
RNRDOLL 2 years ago
ai un chingo de excelentes guitarristas asiaticos o.O
gero8909 2 years ago 2
Anyone know where tabs for this song (Insomnia) can be found?
HendrixToTheEnd 2 years ago
Tabs won't help you develop an 'ear'..which is waaaay more beneficial to your growth as a player.
RNRDOLL 2 years ago
I realize that, but I already learn most songs by ear and this one is just giving me hard time. I think it may be in a tuning other than standard....
HendrixToTheEnd 2 years ago
Man, Akio is so amazing! He's definitelly one of the greatest Metal guitarists out there... Too bad that, like most of the japanese guitarists, he doesn't get the fame he deserves...
TaijiSawadaFan 2 years ago 35
you're right, it's a shame those guitarists are not recognized. It's probably because metal/electric guitars are not as common on media as it is in North America or Europe.. i know it cos I'm from Japan, and you RARELY find a person who's into metal n electric guitars. most of the population have succumbed to J-pop lol.
sean6201 2 years ago 3
Yeah, but you would think that with Marty Friedman doing J-pop in Japan that it would bring some interest in the guitar, and guitar music in general in Japan.
strikeofthesword 2 years ago
one of the most under-rated guitarist out there...
KhidirD2K 2 years ago
@TaijiSawadaFan He deserves respect from the real musicians, so he gets it. Do you need such fame from fans of shit like Slipknot? I think NO
Sortsylic 1 year ago
@TaijiSawadaFan You don't need fame to validate how truly great or talented you really are. If this guy never gets noticed in the mainstream industry does that make him any less awesome or entertaining ? I doubt you're gonna let that stop you from listening to him.
FallenInAdam 7 months ago
@FallenInAdam I agree, mate. I just think it's a shame so many great musicians are ignored just because they're from a different country or a different culture.
TaijiSawadaFan 7 months ago
I like that he doesn't have to grab the whammy bar every 2 secs.
hastyberford 2 years ago 17
Nice!
ysalim007 3 years ago
Please post of all this please!
AverageJoe77 3 years ago