Artist description PLANKTON is an amazing dual instrumental heavy guitar band hailing from Stockholm, Sweden and featuring CHRISTIAN NEPPENSTROM and EMIL FREDHOLM on guitar. Armed with an arsenal of STRATS and MARSHALLS (and a vast array of vintage stomp boxes) PLANKTON pushes the envelope of TOTAL GUITAR into the "outskirts of infinity" and beyond. Taking their cue from the classic retro-bluesy heavy guitar heroes of the late 60's & 70's, PLANKTON has created their own original and unique brand of "EARTH BLUES FUSION". Complete with an incredible rhythm section which we like to refer to as the "BROTHERS IN GROOVE", featuring TOMAS THORBERG on bass and SEBASTIAN SIPPOLA on drums and brother LARS NORMALM on various percussion instruments, further embellishes the overall deep plankton vibe. With influences and inspirations that range from HENDRIX (long live JIMI), ROBIN TROWER, FRANK MARINO, ULI JON ROTH, MICHAEL SCHENKER, LESLIE WEST (MOUNTAIN), CREAM, TOMMY BOLIN, ERIC JOHNSON, STEVE MORSE, RITCHIE BLACKMORE, WISHBONE ASH, BLUES SARACENO, GOV'T MULE, BROTHERS (featuring EEF ALBERS & DARYLL THOMPSON) to just about any other killer guitarist you can think of, the band have legitimately created their own style, voice and vibe. Guitarists (stratmasters) CHRISTIAN NEPPENSTROM & EMIL FREDHOLM, each with their own individual styles & tones, work together as a tight musical team as they weave intricate lines of outstanding rippin', bluesy heavy guitar riffage. Both guitarists complement each other and the band with every note that they pull from their instruments. They have created their own original voices and have achieved true greatness on the guitar. The music of PLANKTON ranges from hard-assed funked-out Hendrix wah-wah land to the deepest Trower to Uli's astral skies to elegantly diverse trippy tones that are guaranteed to blow your heavy guitar mind. Plankton's music is inspirational on many levels, and we strongly urge all the "serious guitar freaks in guitar land" who dig REAL guitar playing (technique with feel) to tune into the "PURE HEAVY GUITAR BEAUTY" of PLANKTON.

Music Style INSTRUMENTAL BLUESY HEAVY ROCK GUITAR

Musical Influences GUITAR HERO ROCK

Similar Artists JIMI HENDRIX, ROBIN TROWER, FRANK MARINO, ULI JON ROTH, LESLIE WEST, CREAM, GOV.T MULE, TOMMY BOLIN, ERIC JOHNSON, STEVE MORSE, RICHIE BLACKMORE, WISHBONE ASH, JOE SATRIANI,

Group Members CHRISTIAN NEPPENSTROM - guitar EMIL FREDHOLM - guitar TOMAS THORBERG - bass SEBASTIAN SIPPOLA - drums LARS NORALM - percussion

Instruments STRATS AND MARSHALLS AND VINTAGE STOMP BOXES

Albums PLANKTON:

Press Reviews Just imagine if we could experience the past again. To witness the heavy, bluesy, funked-out, guitar whalings of artists like Hendrix, Trower, Beck, or even the mighty Cream back in the day must have been a sight to be seen. The music of those artists undoubtedly defined a generation. Honestly, it was during this time the real soul of rock guitar was born. Fast forward thirty or so years, to a time where it seems like putting out your own cd is as affordable as buying a fast food burger. Unfortunately, the quality of most of the instrumental guitar-based offerings that are released today seem to have about the same quality as a fast food burger as well. Well, I have news for you, I have found hope for instrumental guitar music and it resides in a band out of Sweden by the name of Plankton. When you put on your Plankton cd, prepare to enter that past world where the guitar had meaning and where it had its birth as an instrument of beauty and power (to maximally enhance the vibe experience, pop on a pair of those old bell-bottoms and a tie-dye shirt :0) To get right down to it, the interplay between guitarists Christian Neppenstrom and Emil Fredholm is amazing to listen to and must be even more amazing to watch. The vibe of the whole record, from the funky, upbeat, sailing melody lines of opener, “Varlevitation,” to the beautiful, yet sad bluesy vibe surrounding “Jorm,” shows a constant attention to the song structure, emotion, and musicianship by both guitarists. Most instrumental guitar artists today cannot even accomplish one of these pivotal ingredients, yet Plankton manages to encapsulate them all on their debut recording. The band’s cover of the Dave Brubeck classic, “Take Five” is also superbly done, showing class throughout and a worthiness when compared to the original. The first rule of covering a tune is to do it well and Plankton have undoubtedly done this. To be honest, Plankton does borrow heavily from artists of the golden age of guitar, but so what, they do it well and they even add their own original elements, such as on the track “Zeitgeist,” which features not only the essential Plankton twin guitar attack, but some serious harmonica shredding, which was a very pleasant and original surprise to these ears. This is not to mention that Plankton includes a percussionist by the name of Lars Normalm, in addition to their standard drummer. How many guitar-based bands have you seen with this element as a mainstay? Normalm’s lively vibe-enhancing bongos add another essential element to Plankton sound, which I feel also gives the band an original edge in today’s scene. The self-titled Grooveyard Records release by Plankton features 12 tracks of instrumental bliss that is good to the earhole throughout and recalls a time when the soul of rock guitar was born. Honestly, for the instrumental guitar freak there is not a weak track on the offering. We may not have some of the guitarists of the past with us no longer, but they live on in Plankton, who bring this classic sound to a new generation of listeners who now have the opportunity to listen to and appreciate it in full digital sound. STEVE BAUER (ACADEMY OF SHRED)

Additional Info 12 AWESOME TRAX OF BLUESY HENDRIX-INSPIRED RIFFAGE THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO BLOW YOUR HEAVY GUITAR MIND

Location ROCHESTER, NEW YORK - USA

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