Self-released
Release date: 2/27/2023
Production: DavidoOFF & Dejan Dimec – Dimme
Album length: 27.13 min
Genre: Instrumental Rock / Guitar Rock / Progressive Metal / Art Metal
Rating: 9.0/10
DavidOFF, the alias behind which stands multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and, first and foremost, guitar virtuoso David Breznik, popped up on the scene like a bolt from the blue. In 2020 he released his solo studio debut, followed just a year later by the album “Vojna” (2021, RockLine review). Especially with Vojna, the first 100% self-written effort of the DavidOFF project, David Breznik confirmed that we’re dealing with an exceptionally talented musician who approaches creation in a layered way and with a wide artistic vision, making it crystal clear he knows no creative limits. Already with “Vojna” DavidOFF kicked up a lot of dust, because that record is, quite simply, completely thrilling!
David remains a huge perfectionist on “Joker” too. You won’t hear a single thing from this guy that he hasn’t filed down to his own idea of perfection first. Well, at least to that optimal moment that gives you the feeling you’ve done everything essential for a given track to make it onto the album. For years the man has been collecting ideas and jotting them down in demo recordings. And now they’re here. In a series of solo albums. “Joker” is already the third of them. Third in three years. On it DavidOFF once again presents himself as a deft acrobat who, barely noticeably and totally unobtrusively, masterfully fuses proverbially irreconcilable genre elements into a one-of-a-kind cumulus of unique structures of harmonious coexistence.
If Trda kri, Ledeno and Črna noč are an unbreakable, all-instrumental, neo-classical metal blast packed with an unbridled shower of arpeggio maneuvers played at breathtaking supersonic speed, then moments like Iglu bring a completely different experience, lifting the album’s mood to a whole other level. In moments like Iglu, the core of deep artistic self-challenge sparks on the album as David boldly ventures into uncharted musical territory. No surprise, then, that there’s a saxophone in the mix, courtesy of guest musician Then there’s a track like the ultra-musical Strela, which could have come out as a standalone single if it were the second half of the eighties and DavidOFF went by the name Joe Satriani.
There’s enthusiasm for “Joker” in abundance! Right from the opener 2202, which is set up as an anthem. Both in rhythm and in phrasing, and it would also make a great pick for kicking off one of David’s gigs. With the new album David keeps up the unsuspected momentum and creative inspiration of its outstanding predecessor “Vojna”. He maintains the artistic momentum of the unique expressive twist he established on the previous album, but now with a hugely colorful and varied bundle of eight characterfully polished tracks that carry more than a fair measure of musical accessibility along with what more demanding listeners go looking for – just the right helping of maneuvering, with doses of top-tier solo acrobatics and a free-spirited integration of pranks, where you can catch a whiff of experimentation too. David showcased all of this masterfully on the album, since the purely instrumental design of his musical vision gives him a shortcut to it. Throughout, DavidOFF makes sure the compositions have a clearly formed character that dutifully and carefully follows the red thread of the lead motifs. You won’t find any ‘weird’ adventures on “Joker”.
Like its predecessor “Vojna”, “Joker” too is bursting at the seams with all-embracing, high-octane burn. I’m talking about a dazzlingly sharp sound like a massive wall, founded on demolishing riffage, while at the same time speaking to the listener in a pleasingly lively way, in the glow of a constantly dynamic flow of events; underpinning all of it are the building blocks of sound, carefully stacked into a contrast of three-dimensional placement.
With “Joker”, DavidOFF remains a quiet, lonesome musical rider. A carefully guarded musical secret from Carinthia. A musical wizard hidden from view, a D.I.Y. mage who actually does everything himself. The exception is Dejan Dimec – Dimme, who also took part in “Joker”, played drums and helped with the production. David also tracked multiple guitar lines and stacked them up. One on top of another. Guitar melodies too. We don’t know how many ‘terrific’ artistic ideas and demo recordings this kid still keeps in his archives and files, but it would be great if he manages to gradually carry all this highly creative momentum over to a potential successor to “Joker”, because the saying “Strike while the iron is hot!” is worth its weight in gold here. “Joker” is thus at the very least an equal artistic younger brother of “Vojna”, and with it DavidOFF proves that, alongside Jesenice native Gregi Habič, he is actually one of the few constantly active Slovenian guitar grandmasters, who with his activity conscientiously fills the chronically undernourished genre niche of instrumental (guitar) rock on the Slovenian music scene!
Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. 2202
2. Trda kri
3. Porno
4. Iglu
5. Strela
6. Ledeno
7. Črna noč
8. Joker
Lineup:
David Breznik – DavidOFF – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Dejan Dimec – Dimme – drums
Guest musician:
Gregor Štehovnik – saxophone on track no. 4
