Acclaimed French guitarist and artist Fanalo has just revealed another stunning video from his upcoming solo album, set to be released on February 28 via Klonosphere Records. Known for his groundbreaking work with the instrumental metal duo Plug-In and his tenure as sideman for Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal of Guns N’ Roses fame, Fanalo returns to center stage with a self-produced, genre-defying masterpiece. The highly anticipated album features 10 tracks that seamlessly blend hard rock, metal, and progressive influences. It includes three electrifying instrumentals reminiscent of his Plug-In days and seven vocal-driven tracks, including the powerful new single “Why”, which features Bumblefoot on guitar and Thomas Smith on vocals. Watch the video for Why here. About this track, Fanalo shares: “WHY is the most organic song of this album, contrasting with the more produced tracks. It reflects the spirit of bands like Rival Sons, Extreme, and Pearl Jam. English singer Thomas Smith brings his hoarse, warm voice that lets me explore my love for Southern rock, inspired by bands like The Allman Brothers or Gov’t Mule. In this jam band spirit, I invited my brother Bumblefoot for an epic, over-the-top guitar joust.
Lyrically, the song questions human stupidity… and honestly, we could have written 200 verses about that!” If you missed it, listen to the powerful first single, “New Found World”, featuring the legendary Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Journey, Sons of Apollo) at this location. Fanalo, the acclaimed French guitarist and artist based in Bordeaux, has long been a force in the progressive and heavy rock scene. Rising to prominence in the mid-90s, Fanalo established himself as one half of the instrumental metal duo Plug-In. Their 2010 album Hijack was a masterclass in musicianship, featuring collaborations with guitar legends such as Andy Timmons, Bumblefoot, Mattias Eklundh, Sylvain Coudret (Soilwork), Patrick Rondat, Christophe Godin, and Jean Fontanille. From 2002 to 2007, Fanalo also worked as a sideman guitarist for Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, supporting Thal’s solo endeavors before his time with Guns N’ Roses. Beyond his performance career, Fanalo has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of musicians as the director of CIAM, one of France’s premier music training institutions. Now, after years devoted to education and high-profile collaborations, Fanalo returns to the stage with his highly anticipated, self-produced solo album. | 
