Artist description Can You imagine what Rush and science-fiction writer, Ray Bradbury would have sounded like if they had developed a concept band together? What would happen if You were to blend the power and grace of "Rush-like" music, set it to a sci-fi story, and integrate over 150 sound effects into 1 CD? Curious? So was Volitar creator, Andrew Engstrom. He's written songs, in the style of Rush, Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against The Machine, and blended them with an original science fiction story filled with Murder, Mystery & Mayhem and... enough saucy one liners to put Arnold Schwarzenegger to shame. It's all on the the new CD Volitar recorded - "Murder Mystery Mayhem". An amazing adventure into the future featuring 8 songs and 8 sound effects scenes that transporting you into a 22nd century night club where You'll dance to the synthetic rock group "Dreaming Out Loud" - or wake from a nightmare to find Your life terrorized by the demented dreams of a madman. You'll take a tour of a laser research laboratory in a distant solar system and feel the power and force as Your ship blasts-off from Earth. You've probably heard some of the best rock concept albums ever made i.e... Pink Floyd's, "The Wall" - Queensriche's, "Operation Mindcrime" or "Tommy" by The Who. You may have 1 or more of these CD's in Your CD box right now. Awesome records, aren't they? But "Murder Mystery Mayhem" is a concept CD that was created in a way that's never been done before. The angle is so different that You better prepare Yourself for a big surprise, a positively shocking one. Jedd Beaudoin, a professional music reviewer at Ghostland.com says, VOLITAR: Murder Mystery Mayhem is an innovative blend of audio book, comic book, concept album and movie for the ears. And... Screen writer, Dave Hunsaker says Murder Mystery Mayhem is wonderfully imaginative and original... something for the new century. 3 1/2 years went into the creation and recording of "Murder Mystery Mayhem". It features the musicianship of seasoned professionals: Scott Hamilton - guitars, Ford James - bass, Andrew Engstrom - drums; keys and vocals, Andrea Mogil - flutes, John Hanson - trumpet, William "Todd" Hunt - sax, Mike Fieldhouse - congas, Dale McFarlin - dijimbe and Leslie Rostron - vocals. Volitar also features a cast of 10 actors and actresses playing 15 different roles: Becky Engstrom, Ray Imel, Joan Cahill, Tim Hulse, Carl Behnert, Carrie Arbogast, Kent Dawson, Andrew Engstrom, Ford James and Murray Damitio. Volitar: Murder Mystery Mayhem was professionally mixed and mastered by Hollywood's Paramount Studios engineer, George Bryson and the CD's digital imagery was created by artist, Bud Curtis. Join the Murder Mystery Mayhem cast and crew and blastoff to Volitar today! Want to now more about Volitar? Download "The Making of Volitar", Volitar's companion E-book for (PC)!!! Get the inside scoop on the people, places and events that transpired while making this Epic concept CD. In-depth articles, cast pictures and exclusive web access are some of the many highlights this E-book contains. And... "The Making of Volitar" is absolutely FREE. Paste this link into your browser's window http://www.volitar.com/themakingofvolitar.exe

Music Style Progressive Rock, Industrial, Sound Effects and Science-Fiction

Musical Influences Rush, Nine Inch Nails, Dream Theater, and.... Stravinsky

Similar Artists Rush, Nine Inch Nails, Dream Theater, Dio, Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Press Reviews "Murder, Mystery, Mayhem" - a concept CD in the grandest sense... Reviewer: Tony Stasiek The Facts: "Murder, Mystery, Mayhem" is a concept CD in the grandest sense, detailing mining-moon owner Trevor Braiden's (played by composer Andrew Engstrom) trip to the planet Volitar in the year 2117, a GWAR-informed monster named Enox (also Engstrom), nitranium ore sex and an entendre-spewing romantic interest. Think somewhere between Dio's "Magica" and Cloven Hoof's "Dominator." Partially operating on state and city grants, Engstrom took 3Þ years and nine helpers to create a dialogue-heavy prog-rock opera, with each track intended to mimic a different genre. Oh, and Volitar is from Juneau, Alaska (we're the closest CD-review source, Engstrom says). Highlights: "Faces," which sounds like Public Image Limited inside the Star Wars cantina; the dead-on sound effects that indicate a spaceship liftoff as well as cryogenic freezing; and the line, "It is amazing what you've done to this old theater, transporting it from 1942 France and turning it into Volitar's hottest night club. Congratulations to you." Right back atcha. VOLITAR: Murder Mystery Mayhem is a blend of audio book, comic book, concept album and movie for the EARS! Reviewer: Jedd Beaudoin Volitar, "Murder, Mystery, Mayhem" Independent, 2002 Composed and produced by Alaskan Andrew Engstrom and telling a story that involves all three of the elements in the alliterative title, this is an innovative, if not always satisfying record: a blend of audio book, comic book, concept album and movie for the ears where the quasi-camp space-based narrative (co-written by Becky Jo Engstrom) doesn’t fully take off although the songs do. Mixing jazz, progressive, and pop on numbers such as "Deep Freeze" (complete with fantastic horn lines) and "Soul Searching (a little taste of something for those who appreciate Wall of Voodoo and the like) with the hard rocking "Faces" and the open expanse of the best moments of the closing "Free," Engstrom establishes himself as a promising musician, composer, and producer. Of course, it helps that he’s surrounded himself with a promising group of players (Ford James on bass, Scott Hamilton on guitars and Andrea Mogil on flutes, plus several special guests) who help theoften-soaring melodies come to life. Given the quality of the songs, it’s surprising how heavily Engstrom leans on the scenes scattered throughout the record. Although they do add a certain sense of originality and humor to the journey, some segments overstay their welcome just a little bit, jarring listeners out of the realistic and intriguing world created by well-laid notes. That said, Engstrom and Engstrom do show promise and one looks forward to a future release where a more even balance might be struck between music and words. Reviewed by: Jedd Beaudoin, jrbwriter@yahoo.com 07/24/2002

Location juneau, AK - USA

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