Review 'Werewolves of Portland' Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert

By Mike O’Cull

Guitar virtuoso, master composer, and all-round six-string wild man Paul Gilbert raises his game yet again on his new solo album Werewolves of Portland. Set to drop June 4th, 2021 via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group, the set is the always-dynamic Gilbert’s 16th album as a leader and shows him to be an ever-evolving musical force.

Gilbert wrote and recorded Werewolves of Portland completely alone during his pandemic lockdown, performing all the instruments on his own. “It took me about six months to think of it, but it finally occurred to me that I could play all the instruments myself. I’ve always loved playing drums, and I can play bass and keyboards well enough to get the job done,” he said. His creative drive simply wouldn’t wait until it was safe to work with other musicians again so he became the band that he wasn’t able to access. The product of this approach is a supremely listenable blast of original rock music from one of the guitar community’s biggest talents.

Paul Gilbert needs little introduction to anyone who has followed rock music for the past 30-some years. He burst onto the scene at just 16 years old in Shrapnel Records’ boss Mike Varney’s Spotlight column in the February, 1983 issue of Guitar Player magazine. Still living in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the time, it wasn’t long before he moved to Los Angeles, attending and graduating from the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), where he was hired to teach in 1985. He went on to make a big noise with blazing L.A. metal act Racer X, whose debut album Street Lethal was released on January 1, 1986 on Shrapnel.

Gilbert also helped form Mr. Big with rock bass god Billy Sheehan, which went on to become one of the most popular bands of its era. He’s appeared on albums by artists like Todd Rundgren, Bowling For Soup, Glenn Hughes, and MC Lars. He toured with fellow legends Joe Satriani and John Petrucci in 2007 (G3) and in 2009 with Richie Kotzen and George Lynch (Guitar Generation). In short, Gilbert is a guitarist’s guitarist with impeccable chops and credentials.

Werewolves of Portland begins with the harmonized guitar fanfare of “Hello! North Dakota!” This quickly gives way to a kinetic rock groove interspersed with bits of quirky melodic material before Gilbert opens up and rips during the solo. He throws a neoclassical interlude in the middle for kicks before downshifting into another groove and solo and riding the tune out to completion. Right away, Gilbert reminds us that he’s so much more than just a metal guitarist and that he has an original compositional sense to be envied.

“My Goodness” delves into some straight-up rock and roll that finds Gilbert alternating between impressive shred passages and even more impressive melodic sections where he articulates his notes like a vocalist. His drum and bass work is incredibly strong here and throughout the new record and you’d never guess that they aren’t his main instruments. His pocket is huge and organic and drives his songs right where they need to go.

Gilbert’s title track “Werewolves of Portland” is a sinister rock jam built on big riffs and physical energy. It becomes more expansive in the bridge section before opening up into a 21st Century blues groove that will absolutely light you up. This is Gilbert at his sophisticated rock guitar best, combining his natural fire with Al DiMeola-ish muted speed picking and a grand prog middle. If you had to explain PG to someone unfamiliar with him, this cut would be a good place to start.

“Argument About Pie” again mixes high-velocity guitar chops, a big beat, and timeless melodies into an anthem of individuality. Gilbert’s licks and tone are beyond reproach and you will literally hang on every note, waiting for the next one. Be sure to also dig “I Wanna Cry (Even Though I Ain’t Sad)” and “Problem-Solving People.” Paul Gilbert seemingly has the entire world of music under his fingers, crossing genres and creating endless possibilities for himself like it’s the most natural thing he could think to do. Werewolves of Portland is another fine chapter in his body of work and will provide fans of high-end rock guitar with years of listening pleasure. Indulge yourself.

Watch “Werewolves of Portland”