Francesco Marras is a guitarist from the town of Sassari, in the North-West of Sardinia. He started his career back in 1997 in the Heavy Metal act Eruption, which recorded only the one 1999 demo Where I Am Nothing, and changed its name (with the same members) to Screaming Shadows in 2001.
With changing membership (5 drummers have since upped and left, 6 singers were replaced, and the second guitarist left...not to be replaced) but with Francesco and bassist Antonio Doro as constants, SS have to date delivered a 2001 self-titled, self-released EP, self-released full-lengths Behind The Mask (2003), Screaming Shadows Live (also 2003, and obviously a live recording) and In The Name Of God (2005), and had a first “official” release with their 2009 album New Era Of Shadows being issued through My Graveyard Productions. It has since been followed-up by the 2011 album Night Keeper, this time released through Jolly Roger Records, and featuring two new members added in 2010. Along the line, Francesco and Antonio (who is also active in the band Souls Of Diotima, which I have definitely come across before – that's it, I reviewed their 2011 debut album Maitri, which was released through Copro Records) started a new band by the name of Black Demons. I haven't been able to find out what that band's been up to though (they dó have a ReverbNation page with some music on, though!). Oh wait, they dó have one self-titled album out, self-released in 2010!
Besides being active (as guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer) with his two bands, Francesco is also available as session guitarist and bass player, and that for both studio sessions ànd touring. Over the years, he's collaborated with the likes of (in alphabetical order from the list given) Patrick Abbate, Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever), Gianluigi Girardi (Crown Of Autumn and current Screaming Shadows singer – since 2010), Pier Gonella (Labyrinth, Mastercastle), John Malacuso (Yngwie Malmsteen, ARK, James Labrie, and drummer on this solo album), Marco Pastorino (Secret Sphere), Raphael Saini (Chaoswave, and second collaborating drummer to the solo album) and Mattia Stancioiu (Labyrinth, Vision Divine, and current Screaming Shadows drummer – since 2010). He's currently endorsed by B.C. Rich Guitars, Morley Pedals, D'Addario Strings, and Horizon Pickups.
The music on this, his first solo album (with, as mentioned above, Raphael Saini and John Malacuso as drummers), is purely instrumental, and although focused on the guitar(s), keyboard occasionally come out from the background with different sound effects (emulating some bagpipes at the end of 3rd track “Here To Stay”, for instance). Overall a very nice instrumental Metal album with soft-Progressive touches, of which you can find examples at (www.) facebook.com/FMBlackSheep (same songs also at (www.) reverbnation.com/francescomarras). Two additional tracks (not off the album) can be found at (www.) myspace.com/francescomarras. If you àre into instrumental Rock/ Metal, then by all means check it out!