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Album Review: Alex Skolnick Trio ‘Veritas’

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15 years ago

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Alex Skolnick is most well known for his work in the legendary thrash metal band Testament. However, those who pay some attention to his work know that he is an amazingly versatile guitarist with an almost god given skill at guitar. So when I received a copy of ‘Veritas’, the latest from his Alex Skolnick Trio project, I was cautiously optimistic. So how does this metal guitar giant perform on ‘Veritas’? Find out after the jump!
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Swaying from funky to beautiful, heavy (in the jazz sense) to mellow, ‘Veritas’ is an album that covers many bases, all while feeling cohesive and whole. Skolnick demonstrates astonishing dexterity and creativity on the guitar in both the rhythm and lead passages. He also knows exactly when to hang back to allow for Nathan Peck to show his bass chops or Matt Zebroski to add in a clever drum fill. The three play very well off of each other. You can hear the chemistry between them.
The production of the album is overall very good, though there were times when I had trouble discerning the notes of the bass. However, the guitars always sound warm, natural and fantastic. The drums have a deep resonance that can be heard thanks to the openness of the music. The cymbals have a great jazz sizzle in the high end. The many different styles of bass guitar that were used add such depth to the tracks. From bowed upright to fretless to electric, the variations help make each track have a sense of uniqueness. 
Even though some tracks have multiple layers going on, there was still this sense as I was listening that I was in the room with these three musicians as they were playing. It’s a very intimate album that had me reveling in the beauty of the title track and then tapping my foot and nodding my head along with the funk of ‘99/09’. The cover of Metallica’s ‘Fade To Black’ was especially interesting as it went from the normal opening into a jazz chord melody version that was very fresh.
The Final Word: ‘Veritas’ is not an album for everyone. But for those willing to take the chance and listen to some jazz composed by a metal guitarist, you might find yourself hooked. Overall, I find myself wanting to come back to the again and again, which might be the greatest compliment I can give ‘Veritas’. 
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Movies

‘The Lost Boys’ Musical Extends Broadway Run With North American Tour Set for Spring 2028

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1 week ago

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May 28, 2026

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The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.

The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”

The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.

Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).

The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.

As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.

Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

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