I can't really write a review about a youtube sensation now can I ? Well, I suppose it all depends what we all define sensation. Anyway, I thought editorial would be an okay category, even though I'm not gonna talk about moral choices or commemorating the past or anything like that. I do however want to talk about a very, very talented musician. Enter Eric Calderone, a who's passion for metal is apparent from the first moment you will look at him play, and whose wizardry level with a guitar is even more so impressive ! So my wife made me discover Erock (his nickname) on YouTube around the time I got fired last year... a couple of months before Christmas basically. But Erock has been roaming the youtube channels for quite some time now (couple of years at least). Let me present you this phenomenon (as far as I'm concerned).

Erock basically covers your favorite everything, games, movie' scores, pop song, you name it... go now to youtube and type Star Wars meets Metal, or Lord of the Rings meets Metal, Skyrim meets Metal,... you get the idea, heck even Lady Gaga meets Metal ! The result will be the same ALL THE TIME, a dark long haired slim figure (with some resemblance to a young Christian Bale isn't it ?) will click something on his computer (and winking at the webcam) and the music (arrangements) will start, and he will play guitar over like you've never or rarely seen before and cover your favorite melodies from movies (Star Wars, LoTR, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Rock, Harry Potter, Rocky Halloween Ghostbusters,...) video games (Zelda, Street Fighters, Mortal Kombat, Megaman, Skyrim, Final Fantasy,...), pop music (Lady Gaga, Eryc Prydtz, Wham, Rick Astley,...), Anime (Dragonball Z) and so on and so forth. The cover will stay true to the melodies but he will overlay so much more on top of the original that your mind will be blown. His agility HAS to be seen to be believed, solos will leave you watching, speechless, in awe, while Eric just plays with the grin of a man taking pleasure playing highly technical and majestical solos, shredding and near-speed of light tapping like I have rarely seen... and all in one take... it seems so easy when I watch him play. But what I love the most is looking at how he actually enjoys himself ! What is amazing is that he releases a new video every two weeks, sometimes even faster, and he has done that for pretty much two years ! That's right there are about 60 videos of him covering tons of games, movies and the such, and not just small ass covers, they clock from 3 to 6 minutes, and each and every one of them is played with such proficiency that you wonder why he isn't part of a band, he sure can give any guitar player I have ever seen a run for his money, and with that smile on his face. Last time I was amazed as much by a guitar player was by Hendrix... What I love is that while Eric builds songs on existing material (sometimes over a song, but more often than not he will prep arrangement for the song on his computer, add power metal drums beat) but he will just let his guitar mastery take over into mind-blowing solos and bridging elements. For instance in Star Wars, he will pass over all the main themes like the main rebellion theme, imperial march,... etc, even the cantina music, but will intertwine bridging parts and add solos of his on top in a perfect way, making the cover his own somehow... But words aren't worth any picture, even less a video. So I urge you to try these for size and enjoy (that shouldn't be too difficult :), trust me !).

Star Wars meets Metal
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Metal
Lord of the Rings meets Metal
Skyrim meets Metal
Halloween meets Metal (medley) boy do I wish for a Saint Seiya cover hearing the intro !!!
Transformers meets Metal
South Park meets Metal (LOL ! ... and then jaw dropping WOW)

... too many to link directly from here :). All this does is prove that EVERYTHING played metal and by an electric guitar (virtuoso) is just the best !!!

So, what do you think ? Let's discuss Erock on the forum and let me know your thoughts. The day I discovered him I stayed stuck on youtube until 4 AM, just looking at all the available videos. Some comments were very funny too, like this dude makes it possible to listen to Lady Gaga, that says a lot :), and I have to agree. Some are better than others but every time the level of guitar wizardry displayed by Erock is simply mind blowing. I can't get enough of Star Wars meets Metal and the others (The Rock, Pirates, Ken theme from SF, Skyrim, oh my god Skyrim is just inhuman !). I apologize for the many hours you are about to lose staring at Eric playing guitar like it was part of his body, but I think it's worth it. Eric has also released original material via iTunes (called Hollywood Shred), which I bought it immediately as I was in awe of his prowess as a guitar player and he seemed like he could eat Satriani for breakfast, Patrick Rondat for lunch and Yngwie Malmsteen for dinner. I haven't listened to it enough to give you a rundown or a review (maybe soon), but the little I have listened is very encouraging (better than anything I've heard from the previously mentioned players in years). It would of course be much better if the rest was played live by musician and not a drumbox for rhythms, but still, the melodies are amazing, enjoyable and overall it shows that Eric isn't just able to cover known stuff, he can definitely compose and compose very well (it needs a better production but the majesty of the guitar alone is worth it) ! I encourage you to check his website, his provides mp3 of all the covers, as well as tabs and more info about the man. Now a metal band should try and snag him... but does he want to be snagged ? That I do not know, but I do know that I will be listening to Erock's covers and originals for a long long time. Thumbs up Eric, as far as I'm concerned you're the best metal guitar player I have ever seen, YOU ROCK !