XDB (Xander Demos Band)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
“He has begun to gather momentum in the gunslinger space with melodic, speedy runs combining multiple techniques and flawless execution, with some untouchable progressions and speed.” - Blogmeyer
"This album (Guitarcadia) screams to be played at full volume. His music can be described as beautiful melodic to just straight shredding madness! This dude sweeps more on his guitar in one songs than I ever could imagine. He places his melodies in all the right places and throws down when the time is right. The dude is sick! " - Album Reviews
Xander Demos is one of the coolest most talented guitar players I have ever seen. - Soundcrave Magazine
"Pittsburgh's shredtastic Xander Demos Band - named after their guitarist well-known locally for his fleet fretwork - opened the show. The band ripped through a short set of classic power/progressive metal, punctuated by some spot-on operatic vocals." - Helping Hands Rock Reviews
"When I listened to the song, I could hear that he’s got a lot of talent as a guitarist; “Under a Darkened Sky” is a rather sold hard rock track, and I could easily hear it being included in a playlist with artists such as Queensryche, Dio, and Iron Maiden." - AeschTunes
witnessed Pittsburgh's Xander Demos Band at Aldo's on Thursday night. I knew I had heard the name Xander Demos before, but couldn't recall where...Until Xander mentioned that he had played Aldo's stage a decade ago as guitarist for Pittsburgh's Stronghold! I was at that show! Xander could wield a mean axe back then, and he does so now as well, this night showing full shred capabilities on original songs and select metal covers. Xander showed speed and precision constantly as his fingers maneuvered the fretboard, and singer Mario Brescia showed excellent range and grit. The group's sound brought to mind classic Yngwie Malmsteen and Gary Moore; they even covered an Yngwie number, "Rising Force." They also resurrected a former Stronghold tune, "Under a Darkened Sky," and did versions of Iron Maiden's "Trooper" and Judas Priest's "Painkiller." Although some people were in the house, these guys deserved a bigger crowd! - Jim Price
"He is worth the trip just to watch him shred away on the guitar" - Examiner.com
"Guitarist Xander Demos may not be a household name, but his playing is causing an increasing number of new fans and equipment manufacturers to take notice. Demos' combination of Shrapnel-era shred and melodic phrasing makes for a combination that appeals equally to guitarists and non-guitarists." - Guitar World
" This man has talent just bleeding out of his hands...The overall musicality of this project floored me, as I had not heard a record of this style that felt this complete, since Malmsteen's Rising Force or the Speed Metal Symphony album from Cacophony (Marty Friedman and Jason Becker's project)...Man, what a crankable treat this is!" - Glitter 2 Gutter
"I'm really impressed by this release!! This guy can play some serious music!! Stunning. This release has it all to listen to again and again!! Overall, I have to say that this album is not only for guitar sound lovers. This guy has it all! - Heavy Paradise
"Behold the next guitar god! Breathtakingly stupendous, and yet unbelievably humble, the talent just oozes on “Guitarcadia”!!!" - Battlehelm
"If artistic invention and eye watering guitar skills lights your fires, you should have a raging inferno inside over the new album from Xander Demos." - Ringmaster Reviews
"Xander Demos is on the fast track to becoming a priced commodity in the world of guitar shredding...the dude simply well…shreds. His guitar tone is smooth, super melodic and I dare to say wizardry-esque!" - My Global Mind
Guitarcada: "Top 20 Albums of 2012 - Honorable Mention" - Hair Metal Mansion
"When Demos picks up a guitar, you better get ready to be blown away. This guy absolutely brings it! If you're a Steve Vai fan, or a Joe Satriani fan, you don't want to miss Xander Demos." - BC Podcast
"...from the lush ‘Right Angles’ it’s clear that this isn’t your run of the mill bored guitarist side project offloading riffs they didn’t know what to do with. Strangely too I found myself singing along to a couple of instrumental songs, making up my own words – the melodies are that strong!" - The Rock Pit
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Xander Demos is one of todays premier shred metal guitarists. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, he currently fronts his own solo band, as well as playing lead guitar for Pittsburgh's favorite party rock outfit, Jukebox; a Queensryche tribute band, Revolution; and national tribute act, James Riveras Sabbath Judas Sabbath. Xander performs in excess of 100 times a year, and he is active in recording collaborations with artists all over the world. Xander plays guitars from Suhr, McNaught and Conklin, with whom he has endorsement deals. His endorsement from these guitar companies is a testament to his impressive skills and his deep commitment to playing the best guitars in the world.
Xander's style ranges from the beautifully melodic to the jaw-droppingly insane. His playing encompasses much of what he has learned and absorbed from other players over the years; artists like Shawn Lane, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Jason Becker, Neal Schon, Michael Romeo and John Sykes. One constant in his music is a focus on strong guitar melodies. On February 29, 2012, Xander released his full-length follow-up to his EP "Road To Guitarcadia. The new album was mixed by CJ Snare of Firehouse. The album is simply titled, Guitarcadia, and it contains 10 incredible tracks of pure guitar heaven. This release will be followed by an instructional DVD, while performing with his two live bands every week and passing on his passion for guitar by giving in person and online instructions to eager students.
Recently, Xander has been making quite the name for himself and his solo band by appearing as support for acts like Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob, Buckethead, UFO, Lizzy Borden, Kip Winger, Neil Zaza and Dio Disciples. He recently had two #1 Metal and Progressive music videos on Myspace, with his videos Right Angles and Chase The Sun. His last single, White Knuckle Driving received airplay in Brazil, Russia, Denmark, the UK and all over the world! The video has in excess of 120,000 Youtube views. Xander has recently been featured on The Real Radio Show with AJ Pero of Twisted Sister, Steve Vais GuitarTV.com, GuitarWorld.com, Hair Metal Mansion, Iron City Rocks, Metal Temple, Bravewords and many other top rock and metal shows and websites. In August, Xander was named Guitar Shop TVs New Artist Showcase Winner. Nominated for Best Guitarist, 2011 Iron City Rocks Music Awards and 2013 Southern Star Network Independent Artist of the Year, Xanders music will also appear on several releases from other artists: Ged Rylands (Ten, Tygers of Pan Tang,) Derek Buddemeyer (Down Boys Records) and Liberty N Justices long awaited Cigar Chronicles, also featuring George Lynch (Dokken) Jeff Labar (Cinderella) and Jerry Dixon (Warrant.) Xander recently joined James Riveras Sabbath Judas Sabbath tribute band, which will tour on the east coast of the US this year, as will his solo band. Xander has also been nominated for 5 Iron City Rocks Pittsburgh Music Awards in 2012.
In addition to these accomplishments, Xander is an avid animal lover. Always looking for projects that will aid these beautiful creatures, Xander is donating a portion of his album sales to the ASPCA.
Xander plays: V-Picks, the Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra as well as Hughes and Kettner amps, Matrix Amplification, Mission pedals, ISP Guitar Systems and Suhr Guitars, Amps & Effects, McNaught Guitars, who recently completed production of the first Xander Demos Signature Guitar, Conklin Guitars and John Dixon Cases. Many of Xander's guitars are outfitted with EMG pickups and accessories. He exclusively uses the FloydUpgrades tremolos or the GraphTech LB-63 piezo-equipped Floyd tremolo. He also is endorsed with Rock-N-Roll GangStar Apparel. Xander is signed exclusively to Rock N Growl Records for worldwide digital distribution
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