Neon Raptor is a solo synthwave artist from Dublin who first released an EP titled, Solar System in 2023 and has since then followed up with a diverse variety of singles. The tracks are all written and recorded on guitar which is a remarkable achievement, showcasing the talent that this mysterious artist possesses in terms of song writing and production skills. All of the tracks are mixed and mastered by our Jurassic virtuoso and for me, it's a really clever way to record an instrumental guitar based song, which they all fundamentally are.
I’m late to the party as usual but there has been a big revival of synthwave and it’s something that really resonates with me. I grew up listening to hard rock and metal but before that, I played 8-bit and 16-bit video games that had very creative soundtracks in spite of their limited powers at that time. I think it’s the nostalgia factor that attracts me to synthwave music, rekindling old warm feelings of childhood comfort and innocent, peaceful fun. The movie soundtracks of my youth come back to life when I hear this style of music and like a caveman drawn to the security of a warm fire, I somehow feel drawn to the flames of this genre. I don’t know how to truly describe how it makes me feel but there is also something eerie, magical and mysterious about this style of music.
In saying all that, you’re going to need a little something more than the ability to evoke memories to get my attention to this level of effort and Neon Raptor certainly have a bit more going on. The guitar playing is sensational. The tones are perfectly selected and the note selection is flawless. I always prefer a guitar player who plays with emotion and can do more with one note than a thousand shredded ones. Neon Raptor manage to blend some blistering melodies alongside some wonderfully passionate bluesy and emotion filled guitar licks and solos. At times, it feels like I'm listening to electric tears being shed and there are also really upbeat tracks such as Commando 2 Turbo. There's something for everyone but for me, it's one of the most interesting displays of guitar playing I've ever heard. Neon Raptor songs are predominantly recorded on an Ibanez with some parts recorded on a (no longer made) Zakk Wylde Epiphone with upgraded pickups.
If you want to hear a guitar weep, check out the new single, Voyage of the Hawk. It’s an incredible slow paced song full of pure emotion and bluesy guitar playing that reminds me of Gary Moore. For a more upbeat introduction, check out the songs Outrun and Level Up, which are both thumping synthwave songs that feature awesome lead guitar. Neon Raptor is an artist worth checking out and one that I believe will go down well with fans of electronic and guitar based music. It's also something that I believe fans of more traditional blues rock guitar would love. If they don't give it a chance because of the synthwave canvas, then they would be missing out on something really special. I really hope that this project continues and does not become extinct. (hehe)
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