If you are a metalhead and you've never heard about Marty Friedman, is like being a Jedi without knowing who's Yoda. I guess we have to thank Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) for the Marty Friedman/Dave Mustaine collaboration back in 1990, that created Rust In Peace (one of the most amazing Heavy Metal albums ever). Marty Friedman was a proud member of the finest MEGADETH line-up , until Japanese fever hit his head. In 1999 Marty decided that Metal is not good enough for him and moved to the land of the rising sun permanently.

Before the MEGADETH experience, Marty produced instrumental guitar albums like Dragon's Kiss and - along with Jason Becker - albums like Speed Metal Symphony. In 2003 Friedman begins his solo career (again) this time from Japan, with Music For Speeding. The Loudspeaker European Tour was recorded and Exhibit A: Live In Europe CD is the result of those recordings.

The sound is really heavy and solid, which elevates the initial melodic guitar abilities that Marty's music and guitar style have. With a descent selection of musicians such as Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, GORDIAN KNOT) on the rhythm guitar, Chris Catero (RAZER) on bass and Jeremy Colson (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, Steve Vai) I expect nothing less.

The tracklist of Exhibit A: Live In Europe has songs from the post-MEGADETH career of Marty Friedman and few from the his old melodic albums like Dragon's Kiss. After all this intense ,melodic-electric guitar-instrumental music, the album ends with the multi-covered Rock n' Roll classic Hound Dog, that Marty sings (I do not remember listening to Friedman doing vocals again).

But still I thing that Exhibit A: Live In Europe release is nothing more than a forerunner for Marty's new studio album, Future Addict, that is just released. If you are not a big and die-hard fan of Marty Friedman's solo work, and you just want to listen to some beautiful guitar lines from an original guitar hero, my advice is to search for Dragon's Kiss or Scenes. As for Marty? He is living the Japanese dream and he's doing great.