Metal Allegiance is more a loose collective than a supergroup. The brainchild of bassist Mark Menghi to celebrate all things heavy metal, its core lineup includes drummer
Mike Portnoy (ex-
Dream Theater), bassist David Ellefson (
Megadeth), and guitarist
Alex Skolnick (
Testament). Over the last couple of years, these guys have played occasional concerts with a slew of rotating players and singers, making each date an event. This self-titled album reflects that aesthetic mightily. Singers include Phil Anselmo, Randy Blythe, Matt Heafy, Troy Sanders, Cristina Scabbia and Mark Osegueda. Additional guitarists on these nine jams are Gary Holt,
Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel, Misha Mansoor, and Charlie Benante. ~ Thom Jurek