John Ivan new album out now!

 

John Ivan is an internationally acclaimed progressive and thrash metal guitarist and songwriter, renowned for his virtuosic high-energy shredding style, lightning-fast heavy riffs, intricate solos, and dynamically electrifying performances.

With his successful career, John Ivan has established himself as a formidable force in the world of rock and metal music. He has collaborated with legendary rock vocalists Tim Ripper Owens, Michael Vescera, Nick Z Marino, Mark Boals, Elvin Rodriguez, Neil Turbin, and Edu Falaschi. John worked with the bassist Gorka Alegre, among other high-profile artists.

John’s latest studio album, entitled “The GuitarSlinger,” showcases his immense talent and relentless dedication to his craft, solidifying his status as one of the world’s premier and most distinguished guitarists. With each note, John Ivan continues to push the boundaries of guitar-driven music, inspire and influence aspiring musicians, and leave an indelible mark on the world of rock and metal music.

John Ivan, an internationally acclaimed progressive and thrash metal guitarist and songwriter, a member of the Michael Vescera Project, and co-founder of The Voices of Metal Project, signed a PR and Publicist deal with Suley Group, and became an official Brand Ambassador for Suley Era Publication and Suley Music Online Platform (currently under development).

On February 14th, 2024, John Ivan released his debut solo studio album, “Guitar Slinger,” via Bestia Records. “Guitar Slinger” features vocalists Nick Z Marino, Mark Boals, Elvin Rodriguez, Neil Turbin, and bassist Gorka Alegre. All drum tracks were recorded by Nick Tinigin - John’s childhood friend and a permanent partner in his early metal band Bestia.

“Guitar Slinger” is John’s first solo release, not counting his 1997 demo EP “Quicksand,”recorded in 1997. John is featured on the Michael Vescera Project music video “Lord of Bums” (Bestia Records, 2017). He also took part in “Rock’Anizer. Volume #1,” 2006 and “Rock’Anizer. Volume #2,” 2007, and has previously recorded a number of albums with Bestia.

The album is a mix of dexterous instrumental pieces and high-octane vocal compositions such as the opening track “Low Riders,” “Gypsy Woman,” and “Never Give Up” with Nick Z Marino, “The Prison Sell,” performed by original Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin, and the dynamic “Flyin’ Plane,” showcasing the versatile voice of Mark Boals.

“Guitar Slinger” emerged as John’s manifestation of true and pure heavy metal crafted on a guitar-shredding framework, built over the solid foundation constructed by the tightly cemented tandem of Gorka Alegre and Nick Tinigin.

I’ve always been living on the edge, striving for freedom, high speed, and open road ahead, eager to experience the unknown and discover new horizons,” John Ivan shares his view on life and his place in it. “And so the Guitar Slinger became a reflection of my lifestyle and free spirit, which I just couldn’t share with the world.”

John’s everyday motto is “Stay Metal!” The meaning behind these words seems quite obvious for a musician who has naturally dedicated himself to heavy metal music, but for John, it is much more. For him, “Stay Metal!” extends to the life of a committed gym enthusiast who loves working out and “pumping iron” and a passionate, free-spirited biker who can easily tame any two-wheeled machine, no matter what cubic capacity and horsepower has a chrome-n-steel beast under John’s control.

He is a creative and innovative composer, a founder of the thrash metal band BESTIA, a member of the Michael Vescera Project, and co-founder of The Voices of Metal Project.

.such kinds of albums of little-known or even unknown guitar virtuosos are nowadays extremely rare, but a debut solo CD by Ukrainian musician and producer John Ivan Belousov has all the generic traits of those Shrapnel Records of old, which became a kind of a springboard for quite a number of guitar talents all over the US and the World,” wrote in his review Rick Patterfield for Suley Era | Music Life section. “GuitarSlinger, the album, is simply destined to be one of the jewels in the crown of every modern label interested in such forward-thinking guitar stars.”

Tracks

01. Low Riders - feat Nick Z Marino 7:28

02. Division 5:29

03. Flyin’ Plane of a Dream - feat Mark Boals 6:27

04. Gypsy Woman - feat Nick Z Marino 8:16

05. Snakes Of Diablo 2:50

06 The Last Loaded Brain Storming - feat Elvin Rodriguez 7:01

07. The Prison Sell - feat Neil Turbin 7:02

08. Never Give Up - feat Nick Z Marino 5:24

09. GuitarSlinger 9:08

Guest Artists Featured On John Ivan - GuitarSlinger CD

Nick Z Marino - vocals and keyboards. “Low Riders,” “Gypsy Woman,” “Never Give Up.”

Nick is best known for his work with Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force for almost two decades. He joined the supergroup “Generation Axe” for their USA and Asia tours in 2016, 2018, and 2019 performing alongside Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi. In the spring of 2018, Nick Z Marino joined VOICES OF METAL, featuring singers such as Tim Ripper Owens, Mike Viscera, Edu Falaschi, and John Ivan on guitar. In 2010, Nick Z Marino formed the power metal band NZM, which, as of 2024, has released two hit singles and five studio albums, and a recent compilation album “The Best Of NZM.”

Mark Boals - vocals. “Flyin’ Plane of a Dream.”

Mark has performed on more than 40 albums during his career as a lead vocalist, with many Gold and Platinum awards worldwide, along with doing various tours worldwide, with such notables as Dokken, Ted Nugent, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, Royal Hunt, and many more. To date Mark Boals has recorded 3 solo albums, 4 studio albums and a live DVD with his own band, “Ring Of Fire”, with members Tony Macalpine, Virgil Donati, and Vitalij Kuprij.

Neil Turbin - vocals. “The Prison Sell.”

Neil is an American singer known for being the first full-time vocalist for the thrash metal band Anthrax. He is the current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders and a member of the hard rock band Bleed The Hunger.

Elvin Rodriguez - vocals. "The Last Loaded Brain Storming.”

Elvin is a singer-songwriter in Phoenixville, P.A. He is the current member bands Helmer (2013-present), Pain Savior (2013-present), and Spillage (2016-present).

Gorka Alegre - bass. Gorka Alegre is a Spanish hard rock and heavy metal bassist, born in the city of Burgos. In 2001 he joined the group Ñu, contributing to three Ñu albums. In 2008 he became part of the Spanish heavy metal band Barón Rojo (Red Baron), making his debut with them in a concert with the British band Saxon. With Barón Rojo he recorded the legendary album “En Clave de Rock” (2009) and the conceptual work “Tommy” (2012) by The Who.

Nick Tinigin - drums. Nick is John’s childhood friend and a permanent partner in his early metal band Bestia (Ukraine)..

More info