Another Neoclassical album from the Mike Varney Shrapnel label, Speed Metal Symphony featured Marty Friedman and 17 year old unknown guitarist Jason Becker in a twin guitar shredfest. The album features amazing guitar work from Friedman and Becker with all the songs being a vehicle for their prodigious guitar work.

I seen this album first advertised in a rock mag I used to buy back in 1987. I couldn't wait to get it. A local radio rock show then played the Concerto track and I loved it. To be honest I wasn't that big a fan of Peter Marino's vocals to begin with but the more I listened to the album the more his vocals blended in with the heavy and aggressive riffing. I love the completely over the top guitar work on this album and it remains one of my faves that I still listen to very regularly!! 10/10 from me! :D

10/10 from me!

First track I heard was Speed Metal Symphony. I was reading about Marty Friedman to see if he had done stuff other than Megadeth and found out about this.

I'll give it an 8. The rating would've been higher not more than a year ago.

I can actually tolerate the singer. I love the guitar riffs and solos.
Of course Concerto is one of the greatest songs in history.
I do like Speed Metal Symphony (single) also.

@Acousolysis Why you say that? Got tired of the album?

8/10 for me. The Concerto track is awesome but the album overall with the vocals aren't that great.

Since first picking up the guitar, I've steadily gotten more and more tired of the whole shred scene. Not that I don't like the occasional shredfest, but it's justified only when it serves the song.

A whole album is, more often than not, way too much. In its own genre I'd rate the album a 9, easily; counting all music, I can't do that.

Same with me. Shredding is cool but the melody is the most important thing.

I can't actually remember the last time I listened to any virtuoso stuff or instrumental stuff of any kind. All I have listened to for ages now is Metallica and Black Label Society :P

I can't really stand shredding especially when the whole song is just one big shred fest without a good melody. (ehem Rusty...Cooley) But I can stand it when I get a strange feeling from it. Like when you hear those two shred, it doesn't feel like oh here we go again, it's like man I feel this aggressive feeling.
I do tend towards a melody though.

If a composition or song is interesting and imaginative then it deserves credit. Speed Metal symphony was both for the most part in the guitar parts, the songwriting is questionable in some places., but the guitar playing makes up for it mostly.

8/10 from me.

I was reading an old article interview with Jason. He said he hated the beginning of Concerto because it was "...the part is just a fast guitar player doing a fast guitar thing..."

I dare to rate it only 7/10 because: I think songwriting is pretty poor on the album and it also lacks memorable melodies.

Yes, this album is not as popular or appreciated as "Two minutes to midnight" , that Maiden's great album, but anyway it's a 10 for me. I have never seen a pair of guitarists as good and coordinated as Becker and Friedman. Too bad Cacophony only made two albums.
But the main point IMO is that the songs are very good!! And the singer really fits the style.