Cacophony Go Off LP vinyl Judas priest running wild marty friedman jason becker

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BRAND NEW! SEALED VINYL RECORD.
CACOPHONY - GO OFF LP
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Initially issued in 1988, CACOPHONY ’s  2nd album ‘ Go Off!’, led by guitar wizards Marty Friedman (Megadeth), and Jason Becker ( David Lee Roth), is a milestone in the technical heavy speed metal genre influencing many bands in the thrash, heavy metal scene that followed .  Having become a much sought after legendary record, CACOPHONY 'Go Off !’ is now available in Digipack Cd and vinyl with updated master and full liner notes !. Strictly limited to 1,000 copies. For fans of : Megadeth, agent steel, Dragonforce, Anthrax Tracklisting : 1. X-Ray Eyes 5:10 2. E.S.P. 6:06 3. Stranger 3:24 4. Go Off!  3:46 5. Black Cat 7:45 6. Sword of the Warrior 5:09 7. Floating World 5:10 8. Images 3:43

Cacophony's GoOff! is not just an album; it's a monumental artifact of the 1980s "shred" movement and a cornerstone of Neoclassical Metal. It's the ultimate showpiece for the jaw-dropping talents of guitar prodigies Marty Friedman and Jason Becker.
Here is an elaborate description of the album, followed by a list of 50 similar artists and albums that occupy the same dazzling, virtuosic space in heavy metal.
Cacophony - Go Off! (1988) Description of the Album Released in 1988 on Mike Varney's legendary Shrapnel Records label, Go Off! is the second and final studio album by the band Cacophony. It arrived just a year after their debut, Speed Metal Symphony, yet it represented a notable evolution in their sound, attempting to strike a more commercial balance between pure technical exhibitionism and traditional heavy metal songwriting.
The Core Identity: Neoclassical Shred
The foundation of Cacophony's sound is the spectacular, often bewildering, twin-guitar mastery of Marty Friedman and Jason Becker. Their style is characterized by:
Neoclassical Infusion: The guitar work is heavily saturated with elements of classical music, particularly the rapid, minor-key arpeggios, scale sequences, and melodic contours reminiscent of composers like Bach, Paganini, and Debussy. This approach gives the music a dramatic, epic, and virtuosic flair, setting it apart from standard thrash or speed metal.
Dual-Guitar Harmonies: Friedman and Becker were masters of harmonized lead lines, taking the Iron Maiden approach to the extreme by weaving complex, synchronized solos that sounded both frantic and perfectly precise.
Exotic Scales: Marty Friedman brought his distinctive, exotic musical sensibilities to the mix, notably incorporating Eastern, or "Oriental," scales and harmonic minor modes, particularly noticeable on tracks like "Black Cat."
Evolution from the Debut
While the debut was more a raw showcase of instrumental talent framed by speed metal, Go Off! introduced a slightly more song-oriented structure. The band—which here featured the powerful drumming of Deen Castronovo (later of Journey) and bassist Jimmy O'Shea—focused on embedding the guitar wizardry within structured tracks featuring dedicated vocalist Peter Marrino.
Vocals and Song Structure: The presence of Marrino's gritty, semi-clean heavy metal vocals (often compared to a gruff version of a glam or power metal singer) pushes the album toward a traditional heavy/speed metal sound. Tracks like "X-Ray Eyes" and "Sword of the Warrior" are fast, riff-heavy metal songs that use the dual-guitar solos as explosive, technical centerpieces rather than continuous features.
The Instrumental Masterpieces: Despite the focus on "songs," the album retains its shred heritage with brilliant instrumentals. The title track, "Go Off!", is a short, blistering showcase, while "Images" stands out as a more melodic, even balladic, instrumental, demonstrating a depth of composition inspired by classical music.
The Legacy: Go Off! serves as the final statement of one of the most exciting collaborations in metal history. Shortly after its release, both guitarists moved on to legendary careers—Friedman joining Megadeth and Becker joining David Lee Roth's solo band, a tenure tragically cut short by his diagnosis with ALS. The album remains a celebrated, albeit chaotic and demanding, mid-years progressive metal cornerstone that perfectly encapsulates the height of the neoclassical shred era.
50 Similar Artists and Albums The artists listed below are celebrated for their neoclassical, virtuoso, speed, and progressive metal styles, falling squarely within the sphere of influence and peers of Cacophony.
The Shrapnel Records Neoclassical/Shred Pantheon (Direct Peers) These are the artists who defined the same subgenre alongside Cacophony, often sharing musicians, producer Mike Varney, and label Shrapnel Records.
Yngwie Malmsteen – Rising Force (The genre's originator)
Racer X – Second Heat (Paul Gilbert's equally virtuosic band)
Tony MacAlpine – Edge of Insanity
Vinnie Moore – Mind's Eye
Marty Friedman – Dragon's Kiss (Solo album)
Jason Becker – Perpetual Burn (Solo album)
Joey Tafolla – Out of the Sun
David T. Chastain – Instrumental Variations
Richie Kotzen – Richie Kotzen
Greg Howe – Greg Howe
Neoclassical & Power Metal with Extreme Speed Bands that blend classical composition and high-speed delivery with power or speed metal structure.
Symphony X – The Divine Wings of Tragedy (Modern progressive heir to the style)
Adagio – Sanctus Ignis
Dream Theater – Images and Words (For the compositional complexity)
Helloween – Walls of Jericho (Early German Speed/Power Metal)
Angra – Angels Cry (Especially for Kiko Loureiro's neoclassical work)
Stratovarius – Fourth Dimension
Galneryus – Beyond the End of Despair... (A prominent Japanese neoclassical band)
Time Requiem – Time Requiem (Pure neoclassical power metal)
Artension – Into the Eye of the Storm
Children of Bodom – Hatebreeder (Neoclassical riffs blended with melodic death metal)
Technical/Progressive Thrash Metal Bands that share the intricate, often non-standard riffing and rhythmic complexity.
Watchtower – Control and Resistance
Coroner – Punishment for Decadence
Annihilator – Alice in Hell (Especially Jeff Waters' technical riffing)
Atheist – Unquestionable Presence (For the fusion/technical complexity)
Forbidden – Forbidden Evil
Testament – The New Order (Particularly Alex Skolnick's soloing)
Megadeth – Rust in Peace (Marty Friedman's work post-Cacophony)
Exmortus – Slave to the Sword (Modern torchbearers of the style)
Realm – Endless War
Toxik – World Circus
Melodic & Progressive Death Metal with Neoclassical Elements More extreme metal acts that apply the neoclassical formula to a heavier sound.
Necrophagist – Epitaph (Technical Death Metal with a high degree of classical influence)
First Fragment – Dasein (Extremely technical and neoclassical death metal)
The Human Abstract – Nocturne
Wintersun – Wintersun
Ex Deo – Romulus
Arch Enemy – Stigmata (Early work featuring Michael Amott's melodic leads)
Other Shred Guitarists & Instrumental Acts Pure instrumental showcases that capture the spirit of virtuosity.
Joe Satriani – Surfing with the Alien
Steve Vai – Passion and Warfare
Paul Gilbert – King of Clubs
Jeff Loomis – Zero Order Phase
Shawn Lane – The Tri-Tone Fascination
Michael Angelo Batio – No Boundaries
Guthrie Govan – Erotic Cakes
Lost Symphony – Chapter I (Modern project featuring multiple shred guitarists)
Michael Romeo – The Dark Chapter (Symphony X guitarist's solo work)
Influential Traditional & Speed Metal The foundational heavy metal bands that provided the framework for the "Speed" in Neoclassical Speed Metal.
Judas Priest – Painkiller (For the sheer speed and technicality)
Iron Maiden – Powerslave (For the complex, twin-guitar harmonized riffing)
Mercyful Fate – Don't Break the Oath (For the dramatic, King Diamond-era flair)
Razor – Evil Invaders
Angel Dust – Into the Dark Past