Artist description Award winning Industrial Metal guitarist from Albuquerque, New Mexico.Member of Albuquerque's Modern Metal Monsters SYSTEMIC

Music Style Industrial Metal

Musical Influences Malmsteen, Vai, Satriani,Statix-X,Sevendust,Fear Factory,Pantera

Similar Artists Michael Lee Ostrander

Artist History Born in New Jersey Michael began playing electric guitar at the age of 13. His interest in music began with the trumpet, performing in concert, marching and stage band. Michael soon discovered Kiss, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath and was quickly enamored with the heavy metal sound. Abandoning his trumpet Michael began to devote his time to the guitar, he took lessons from a local teacher for about a year and already having a good knowledge of basic music theory Michael proceeded to teach himself about modes, exotic scales and modem guitar techniques.Moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico at the age of 16, Michael was exposed to the more aggressive sound of thrash metal and guitarists like Al di Meola, Michael Schenker, Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen'. Practicing long hours to hone his style and technique Michael formed the first of several bands he would be a member of in 198O, Precious Metal. Other bands Michael was the guitarist for include Vengeance, Paradox, Tarkus, and the most successful, Enforcer, which was formed in 1987.In 1989, Michael established himself as one of the top players in the city when he won the Guitar Wars at an Albuquerque music store. Mike's brand of fast, melodic shredding placed Enforcer at the top of New Mexico's small but highly competitive metal scene, and in 1993 the guitarist won another competition dubbed the Best Shredder in New Mexico Contest. Michael was featured in Guitarist Network Magazine in 1994, receiving a very positive review of his group and especially his solo playing.Enforcer released four cassettes in their eight year history, played well over one hundred shows in New Mexico, showcased at the Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles, was well known locally and in the national underground scene, was featured on a Rodell Records compilation CD, and won a New Mexico Mic-Award for Best Musical Production/Metal January 1995.Enforcer dissolved in late 1995 when the lead vocalist and drummer departed for personal reasons, deciding not to continue with new members Michael quickly moved into an Industrial/Cyber-Metal project with a vocalist/keyboardist friend. Contributing guitar to nine songs as well as some vocals. Diverje released an 18 song CD entitled Electrodiums/The Passage which is still available in local record stores and mail order.After finishing the Diverje project Michael decided to pursue a solo career, he purchased a drum machine, wrote some new songs and went into the studio to record his best guitar work to date. Declaration of Revolution. An intense mix of industrial, thrash, and shred guitar music, featuring five instrumentals and one vocal track.Arranging his instrumentals like vocal songs with audio samples taking; the place of the lyrics, Mike created a fresh, new approach to the instrumental songwriting with his melodic, often Middle-Eastern flavored solos adding the finishing touches to his unique vision.Digital Web the first track from Declaration of Revolution won a New Mexico Mic-Award for best Musical Production/Metal, the same song also appears on a compilation CD put out by Guitar 2001 magazine and Michael was also profiled in Ballbuster Magazine in 1998. Michael's second release Tomb of the Unknown Shredder features seven new songs and a remastered version of Declaration of Revolution the new material features many of the same elements of Michael's first effort minus the audio samples which have been replaced by haunting melodies, some cool keyboard effects and more melodic shredding. The 4th track from the new CD won a 1999 New Mexico Mic-Award, once again in the Metal category,the second year in a row Michael has won this award. The Unknown Shredder has been wowing Albuquerque audiences with his incredible one man live show,with backing tracks on a disc,Michael takes the stage and shreds it up single handedly. Michael plays with a variety of Albuquerque Rock and Metal bands and opened for Great White in August of 1997. Michael's goal is to use his music for Computer video games, Movie soundtracks, Join an established or up and coming band, score a recording contract as a solo artist, or be a clinician for musical products.

Group Members Michael Lee Ostrander- All Guitars and programming

Instruments Guitar, Drum Programming

Albums 2002 SYSTEMIC-BIOLOGIC,2001 SYSTEMIC-Self Titled 1999 Tomb of the Unknown Shredder 1996 Declaration of Revolution

Press Reviews http://www.systemicmetal.com

Additional Info http://shredmetal.cjb.net

Location Albuquerque, NM - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).