Every once in a while there comes along a band that is so different or unique, you would think they were dropped on Earth from another planet. Pyramids on Mars, is one of those bands.
What first catches you, is that they are an instrumental band. A combination of elements such as hard rock, industrial, metal and psychedelic rock. And then… the lead guitar comes soaring in. Well crafted, beautiful, melodic phrases so catchy and memorable they will be stuck in your head the rest of the day. The guitar has become the “vocals” of the music.
As the solo project of guitarist Kevin Estrella, he wanted to do something musically different that would stand out from the crowd.
“Pyramids on Mars is the embodiment of who I am, really. My musical influences, my philosophies on life, the universe and our place in it.” Kevin went on to say, “I have always been attracted to space, and a lot of my sound is influenced from my childhood growing up in the ’70’s. Some of my favorite TV shows back then were Star Trek and Space: 1999. Plus I am a huge Rush and Pink Floyd fan! Thus I use a lot of analog synthesizers like the Minimoog and Oberheim Polyphonic. Predominant of the ’70’s era and used exclusively by those bands. They are just so warm and mysterious sounding, they resonate with me.”
His musical style is very similar to world renowned rock guitarist Joe Satriani. So much Kevin has nicknamed himself the “Satriani of the North.”
“Of course Satriani is a huge influence on me”, he says. “But he (Satriani) does more of a bluesy thing. I am more influenced by classical music. I absolutely love baroque classical composers J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. They are a paradigm shift for me, and are my biggest musical influences. I spent 3 years in fact, studying classical guitar. Mix my classical influences with all the bands I grew up listening to like Rush, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ministry, Pink Floyd for example, and bands like Meshuggah, I am a blend of it all. And much more….”
Pyramids on Mars really is music from the Mystical Red Planet.
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