No Boundaries
Studio album by
Michael Angelo Batio
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1995 (1995-09-01)
StudioM.A.C.E. Studios, Chicago
Genre
Length48:17
LabelM.A.C.E.
ProducerMichael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio chronology
No Boundaries
(1995)		 Planet Gemini
(1997)

No Boundaries is the debut solo studio album by American heavy metal musician Michael Angelo Batio. Recorded at M.A.C.E. Studios in Chicago, Illinois, it was released on September 1, 1995 by his own label M.A.C.E. Music. Batio performed the majority of instruments on the release, as well as producing, engineering and mixing the album.

Background and production

Michael Angelo Batio began his solo career shortly after the break-up of his previous band Nitro, which featured lead vocalist Jim Gillette, in 1992.[1] His debut solo album, No Boundaries, was recorded at M.A.C.E. Studios and mixed at Monsterdisc, both in his hometown Chicago, with Batio handling all production, engineering and mixing; Jason Rau mastered the album.[2] All electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion programming were performed by Batio, with Rob Ross contributing drums to "Rain Forest", "Science Fiction" and "2X Again".[2]

The album's title track, "No Boundaries", was originally written for one of Batio's instructional guitar videos, not for the album itself, with the guitarist claiming he "didn't even know the song ... would be popular".[3] The video in question was the 1991 Metal Method production Speed Kills; the track was later featured on the video Speed Lives, which breaks down and teaches the song in 27 parts.[4] Additionally, "The Finish Line" was featured on Speed Lives 3.[5]

Reception and legacy

Quoting a review by critic Kevin Prowse, Guitar Nine Records noted that No Boundaries "has been heralded as one of the top ten instrumental guitar CDs of the 90s".[6] Prowse praised the "mastery of various lead [guitar] techniques like speed picking, string skipping, arpeggios and cross string tapping" on display, and selected "Science Fiction", "Rain Forest" and "No Boundaries" as particular highlights on the album.[6]

In 2007, Batio released the album 2 X Again, which features remixed and remastered songs from No Boundaries and follow-up album Planet Gemini with re-recorded drums by Joe Babiak.[7] From No Boundaries, all tracks except "Intro: This CD Is Dedicated to You" and "The Finish Line" were included.[8] The guitarist's 2015 "career-spanning retrospective" compilation album Shred Force 1: The Essential MAB features "2X Again", "Rain Forest", "No Boundaries" and "Peace" (on digital versions only), all of which were originally released on No Boundaries.[9]

Track listing

All music is composed by Michael Angelo

No.TitleLength
1."Intro: This CD Is Dedicated to You"1:54
2."Rain Forest"6:29
3."Science Fiction"6:32
4."Peace"6:28
5."I Do for You"5:48
6."The Jam Game"5:34
7."2X Again"5:27
8."No Boundaries"3:43
9."The Finish Line"2:01
10."Outsideinside"4:21
Total length:48:17
2002 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Dream Up"5:26
12."Give Me Jimi"4:51
Total length:58:34

Personnel

Personnel credits adapted from the album's booklet.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Singer Jim Gillette Doesn't Rule Out Nitro Reunion". Blabbermouth.net. July 16, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 No Boundaries (Media notes). Michael Angelo. M.A.C.E. Music. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ St. James, Adam (21 April 2015). "Michael Angelo Batio Interview: Still Shreddin'". Guitar.com. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Speed Lives". Metal Method. 28 June 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Speed Lives 3". Metal Method. 28 June 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Michael Angelo "No Boundaries"". Guitar Nine Records. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Michael Angelo Batio "2 X Again"". M.A.C.E. Music. December 3, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "2 X Again by Michael Angelo Batio". iTunes. 22 April 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Michael Angelo Batio to Release Career-Spanning Retrospective, 'Shred Force 1'". Guitar World. March 5, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
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