Name:
Mark Schuster
Background:
I won't bore you with every detail since I was 6, but let's just say music's a big part of my life and has been for a very long time. I've played everything from classical to jazz to hard rock - although hard rock seems to be the genre I gravitate to more than any other. Why? I dunno, that's a good question. It just seems to be in my blood.

I write, play, and record everything you hear on this site and those sites I publish my music. Some people think you're nuts for doing everything yourself, but it works for me.
And this Website?
Music, Music, Music!
Genre:
Hard Rock/Metal
Guitars:
Jackson/Ibanez/Fender
Drums:
Pearl/Paiste Cymbals
Recording Equipment:
Roland VS-1824/Reaper DAW
What's up with the "B" in markbschuster.com?
Well, www.markschuster.com was taken...so I included my middle initial and there ya go..
Favorite Movie:
Kingpin ;)

Title: Monster Me
Released: 12/2005
Cover Art: Scott Radke
Buy Online:
CDBaby (MP3 copy only)
Applie iTunes
Napster
Fossil Records

MidWestBands.com (US)  (4/15/2006)
From the get-go, I have to make it abundantly clear that Mark Schuster is an excellent musician! He not only provides the guitar work on the CD – he also plays every other instrument, as well as shouldering the burden of production and mixing! He is the man with the plan, and Monster Me is one hundred percent his Baby!
Review by Mark Lush, Midwestbands.com

Bad Attitude Radio (US)   (3/11/2006)
"This is a awesome CD! We have only had it a few hours now and I have listened to it a few times already. Great Work Man. Keep It Up!" Ken, Bad Attitude Radio

What makes a great instrumental album? This is a question that we should ponder with intellect and attention, focus and heart. To take on a instrumental project one must allow the axe to speak instead of vocals, and it has to be done in a very concise manner, or all is lost on the novice listener. Mark Schuster’s ‘Monster Me’ is described by the artist as 10 Instrumental Hard/Rock Metal songs. I describe it as a Story told by guitar. A story that is unique to whomever is listening, it is not overplayed, the melody is present, and never foregone to ‘ham it up’. So often soloists violate that simple rule. They overplay and what is sacrificed is the journey. The track ‘Agree to Disagree’ slows down in the appropriate places to allow the eyes to focus as the ears react pleasantly. By the time I reached ‘Bang Bang’ I had chosen a destination in my mind and Mark allowed me to roam freely with the perfect tone and pitch. This player is confident, energetic and hammers you when necessary. The artist uses effects and delays appropriately throughout his pieces and he holds notes and picks never forgetting that a hammer needs a nail if you are going to build something. Dancing with the Devil is a track that did just that, what a build up. I think that this is a must listen. The instrumental's make a collectors overall appreciation of metal have an almost academic meaning. This album needs to find it’s way into your mind and cd case. Congrats Mark my first 5 on the old 1-5 scale.
Review by John Ritondo (aka Jalapenopope)

STRUTTER'ZINE (Europe)   (2/28/2006)
Instrumental Melodic Hardrock in the best 80s style (read: early SATRIANI, VAI, VAN HALEN) is what we get to hear on the debut CD of guitarist MARK SCHUSTER. Actually you should call this mastermind a multi-instrumentalist as well as producer, because he did everything on his own. The result is a great typical instrumental Hardrock CD with one foot in the 80s (the songs), although the production quality is of course the level of 2006, so nothing sounding dated here. Recommended to fans of guitar orientated instrumental Melodic Hardrock, because there are some really gems on the CD (check out the awesome “Agree to disagree” that has some beautiful melodic guitarwork). (Points: 8.3 out of 10)
Review by Gabor Fabian

Germany's #1 Internet Hard Rock radio station   (2/10/2006)
Check out Monster Me cuts on Munich's Hardest Hits

FRETNET.COM Radio (Australia)  (1/23/2006)   Jan 23 Show

HARDROCKHAVEN.NET (US)   (1/12/2006)
"The flow of this record is seamless and expert, and is just the beginning of the words you could use to describe Schuster's impeccably clean soulful style." Review by Matthew Hoffman

MELODIC.NET (Europe)   (1/11/2006)   Review by Kaj Roth

PRESS RELEASE   (1/1/2006)   Official Monster Me Press Release


Miscellaneous Comments 2000-2004

"Mark Schuster has created an album that's gonna turn on a few heads, I think that soon this guy could become one of the most talked about players..." Nicky Baldrian, StrutterZine

"yeah!!!!! You are sounding great and the site looks fabulous. I love the playing. Good work. Awesome stuff!!! Neil Zaza

Featured on BallBusterHardMusic.com's "Axe Banger:The Guitarist Showcase" August/September, 2002

"I do hear a lot of promise in your guitar playing - your tone is strong and you have the beginnings of a kick-ass personal style... I dig the energy and phrasing of your soloing." Phi Yaan-Zek, LNR Records

"... a milestone stone of the type like Dokken. Bravo Mark! Hurray the guitar heroes!" Luca Daddi, Metal Maniacs, Italy

"Although you hear a lot of guitar picking,this is not a boring album. Schuster is capable of creating a very own atmosphere and mood for every different song; and that is what I call a great achievement. Martien Koolen, RockUnited.com (AOR-Europe.com)

"...Too Little, Too Late" and "I am a Machine" are supported by cutting riffs, metallic and beautiful melodies that remind you of something like Lynch or Vai" GuitarChef, Italy's first Guitar Zine

“Musically, he plays with plenty of Eddie Van Halen flourishes, a Steve Vai-like approach to melodies and rather unusually, echoes of the Scorpions. However, where the album scores higher than most is Mark's mastery of the rhythm guitar which is quite superb, giving the album an enjoyable side that other albums mostly lack. “ Matthew Honey, HardRoxx Online, UK

"…this cd reminds me very much of LYNCH, SATRIANI, MOORE and Mr. Eddie VAN HALEN" SLAM! Hard Rock/Metal Zine, Italy

"... 10 tracks firmly in the hard rock and heavy metal arenas that offer mega-riffing, impressively fluid melodic soloing..." Guitar Nine Records, The Undiscovered June-July,2001

"Mark Schuster is obviously an indecently talented guitarist, and has already found a strong niche in a genre that could surely use an oil-change" Dave B. Wagner, Gods of Music

"It didn't take long during my first listen to discern that Mark Schuster is a very talented guitar player and musician." CrashTest, Metal-Rules.com


MONSTER ME
(Entire CD - Stream Only)

Get the Flash Player to see this player.
(Music off the new, upcoming CD)

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

April, 6, 2008
Site redesign (again...)

Drum tracking for several songs off the new CD resumes in a few weeks, as well as vocals and a few guitar tracks.
With any luck enough will get done to release a few sneek peeks here on WWW.MARKBSCHUSTER.COM!!
Stay tuned...
March, 8, 2008
Is it possible? Spring is truly on its way? Looks that way.
Work continues on material for the new CD. Here's a quick rundown, as of now, of the names of songs on the CD:

Until I See Your Eyes
Did What I Did
Static
Nothing Without You
Loosing Faith
Lies
Bitter Man
The Monster Inside
Believing in You

Look for a sneek peek of "Until I See Your Eyes" in the near future.
February 8, 2008
Holy Schnikes!! When is WINTER going to be over?? I'm going nuts!!

Ok, in a fit of depresson and claustrophobia I decided to give the site a makeover. Lighter colors - thus more LIGHT!!! That's good thing in winter, right?? Anyway - a huge addition has been made with this update in the form of a new section below with 20 or so old MP3's I dusted off. I was actually amazed I've created that much music since 2000. Well, it has been 8yrs, so I guess not that weird, but still.. Anyway - it was kinda fun listening to some of this older stuff. Where it's lacking in production, or even perhaps a performance here and there *clears his throat*, I think in several situations it is made up by the tremendous amount of emotion and passion. I hope you agree!

Some good progress has been made on the new CD in recent weeks. Drums were tracked on two older tunes I decided to add to the CD. I'm eyeing a few other older ones too, never released, for the same makeover. All they need is some great vox and a guitar solo here and there and then they'll move into the mixer. Stayed tune, I will of course post them here once done. Think WARM thoughts! Bob's your uncle.
January 4, 2008
Happy New Year!

A new mix of "Did What I Did" is up.
December, 23 2007
Happy holidays and Merry Xmas! Look for a new mix of "Did What I Did" coming soon. Also - a new tune called "Until I See Your Eyes", recorded over the Thanksgiving holiday, will be posted soon. Not everything's done yet - a new vox track and some guitar lead work need to be done yet...but SOON! This is a continuation of the story started in "Did What I Did". In fact, the album will be based on a fictional story started by "Did What I Did". Kinda of an "Operation Mind Crime" of sorts. So check back.. I'm really happy with the guitar tone on this new one. Trying new things all the time with the help of my new killer DAW "Reaper" and help of friends on both COCKOS and ANDY SNEAP forums.
November 10, 2007
Well, another summer officially over here. Now, those of us in the icing cold wastelands of the northern United States get to enjoy winter, or as I like to say "hell frozen over". To heat things up, I've decided to add ALL songs from my "Monster Me" CD for stream here. It's the only place you can stream ALL songs, complete MP3 (192kb) versions, on the net. Enjoy!

Another round of drum sessions for the new CD are slated for a few weeks from now. Hopefully tracking for at least 3 more songs on the new CD will be completed by the end of it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

As always - thanks for your support!
October 13, 2007
Happy ROCKTOBER to everyone! Some good progress has been made lately on the new CD. In fact, check out the new tune 'Static' below. Lyrics can be found by clicking on the arrow ">" next to the song. Let me know what you think!
Switching gears slightly - it appears CDBaby is now selling MP3 copies of my first CD "Monster Me". I wasn't aware of this until they sent me a note saying a few had bought it lately. When I sold out of the original copies there late last year, I decided for a few reasons not to refill. Too long to go into why, but, if you're interested in mp3s, I guess they have complete CD copies available. For those of you who have bought it recently - and of course EVERYONE who's bought a copy since it's release last year......THANKS!!!
September 13, 2007
It's been a while since an update! Sorry about that - but I've been busy working on recording some new music for the next CD (*Check out a new song below called "Did What I Did") and also getting comfortable with a new PC based DAW called "Reaper". It's a fantastic piece of software that has literally revolutionized the way I'm approaching music. More importantly - it's increased the quality of my music by 100%! Look for a preview of another new tune soon! Until then...

July 27, 2007
Recording for the new CD continues this weekend. Look for some samples in the coming weeks!

July 15, 2007
Site redesign.

July 4, 2007
Work continues on material for the new CD. Fifteen or so songs have been written and now it's just a matter of figuring out which ones stay and which ones go.

I'm excited about this new disc. I'm trying something different with vocals - and as always - making every effort to improve the general writing and recording aspects of it. To that end, I purchased a new Pearl drumset to replace the old triggered set I was using. This of course adds a whole new dimension to my recordings - both at the music level and on the recording side. A long weekend was set aside in early June to start tracking the drumset and find a good mic'ing setup. Like most new endeavors - there was limited success and a boat load of frustration. What cha' gonna do, right? The upside is...about a month later - I'm dying to give it a try again - and hopefully this time nail it.

With vocals on the new material, I think it also marks a fundamental shift in my music. Whether I like to admit it or not - I'm a product of the music I listened to, for countless hours, while growing up. Most, if not all, of that music was vocal based (e.g. Scorpions, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Alice in Chains). My writing has always been geared toward vocals - even though when I started recording again in early 2000 everything was solely instrumental (Satch/Vai). For me, it never seemed to click 100%. The new music does. You be the judge. Below are several samples and one full length song from the new CD.





(Dust em' off and crank em'!)
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
All Rights Reserved WWW.MARKBSCHUSTER.COM

eXTReMe Tracker