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Blog Categories Review Darren Michael Boyd - Last Seen In Canada - Reviewed By Metal Digest!

Darren Michael Boyd - Last Seen In Canada - Reviewed By Metal Digest! Wednesday March 9 2022, 1:52 PM

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Darren Michael Boyd - Last Seen In Canada - Reviewed By Metal Digest ! Check it out here at this link: https://metal-digest.com/2022/03/07/darren-michael-boyd-last-seen-in-canada/

Having been a sideman in several notable outfits, including Canada’s Famous Underground and having released two other solo albums, Boyd is showing his skills merit a spot at center stage. ‘Last Seen…’ is a fine collection of varied Hard Rock and “Spooky Surf” music. Yes, I was intrigued by that description as well. Truth be told, the “spooky” component is more displayed in his previous efforts. Still, ‘Last Seen’ has some mighty fine moments.

The “Surf” vibe is in full effect on “Melting Beneath the Moon” and “Spider Jewel.” “Moon” is fairly standard echo-laden fare, but with enough unexpected jabs to keep things interesting. “Jewel” melds The Cure’s ‘Seventeen Seconds’ album with vintage Los Straitjackets. I’ll let that sink in a bit.

There are many unconventional pairings here. Mid 80s Prince-tinged funk (“Amphibian Rhapsody”) and a supercharged chugfest is mixed with proggy Beatlesque interludes (“1692-1982”) are high points.

The crown jewel is “Solitary Green Witch.” Highly atmospheric and tailor-made for your favorite Hard Rock horror flick or just a cool stand-alone jam. I found myself playing this track more than a few times.

Reportedly, Boyd was injured in a car accident some years ago. Subsequently, he had to alter his playing technique, and the result is this intriguing style of music. I’m not sure of the nature or extent of his injuries, but he can pull off tasty licks like this, I am inclined to offer an additional tip of the hat.

My only detraction is his songs are too darn short. Many times, I was into a nice little groove, wondering what was around the bend and poof…it’s over. Consequently, the album tends to feel unfinished in places. With a little more grooming, this little gem could shine even brighter. - Metal Digest

Release Date: October 29, 2021

FFO: Joe Satriani, John 5, Alice Cooper

Location: Ottawa/Toronto

Darren Michael Boyd has toured and recorded with various artists, including Black Ju-Ju, Creeping Beauty, and Famous Underground (featuring Juno award-winning vocalist Nick Walsh). He was invited multiple occasions to privately audition for platinum-selling artist Fefe Dobson and was asked to write songs for Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric’s side band Beasto Blanco (also featuring Calico Cooper). Boyd received a scholarship to attend a week in Toronto in the summer of 2007 at Guitar Workshop Plus, with some of the best players in the business as instructors (Paul Gilbert/Billy Sheehan/Sue Foley).

He has shared the stage with many classic and current acts such as One-Eyed Doll, Wednesday 13, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stryper, Stitched Up Heart, Beasto Blanco, and Lee Aaron, to name a few. Boyd released his debut instrumental album entitled "Lifting the Curse" in the fall of 2019 as a form of therapy following a life-altering car accident. It was recorded and produced by Darren Michael Boyd, who performed all of the instruments on the album, except on the track "Was is something I said" which features drums by Emily Dolan Davies (The Darkness, Kim Wilde). He brought his instrumental project to the stage for the first time in May of 2019.

In the spring of 2019, he joined the Mississippi Mudds Theatre Group to play guitar for a sold out run of Queens We Will Rock You, which won the Ottawa Faces Award. He hopes to do a lot more musical theatre in the future. In the spring of 2020, he was voted best local musician, and best guitar teacher, in the Ottawa Valley/North Grenville Readers' Choice Awards.

During the 2020 Covid Pandemic period, Boyd created and released his sophomore solo album entitled Wonders of the Invisible World, along with five self-shot and directed music videos. Three of Boyd's self-produced music videos from the Wonders of the Invisible world album were nominated for independent film festival awards. Arachnochakra won for Best North American Music Video in the Toronto Alternative Film Festival. Darren was nominated for BEST ROCK ARTIST by the Josie Music Awards, the largest independent music awards show in the world - held at Dollywood in Tennessee.

Darren released a new single called "Spider Jewel" in June 2021, while recording songs for his third solo album “Last Seen in Canada”, which was released in October 2021. Halloween weekend of 2021 saw Boyd’s long-awaited return to the stage! He looks forward to many more performances in the New Year.

Boyd recently released a music video for the song Solitary Green Witch.

Check out the video!