Doppler, Inc.

Doppler, Inc. - Nu Instrumental - 2005 - Favored Nations

Formed in 2002, the San Francisco based group is the brainchild of lead guitarist/songwriter, Doug Doppler. With their debut release, they're forging an exciting new brand of music---Nu Instrumetal. "The goal of the record was to bridge the gap between nu metal bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Saliva, old school metal acts like Metallica and Exodus and instrumental artists like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. 'Nu Instrumetal' refers to that collision of stylistic influences." Produced by Doug Doppler and Pete Karr (Michael Bolton/Backstreet Boys/Jennifer Love Hewitt), the record is an immaculately crafted marvel, juxtaposing savage riffery with inventive arrangements and inspired playing. As for Karr's crucial contribution to the record, Doppler reflects: "Pete put a very large steel toed boot to my posterior and kicked me out of my comfort zone into the uncharted waters of the deep end of my creative pool. He brought a distinct modern flavor into the record, adding the really cool harmonic and rhythmic loops that made it sound less like an instrumental record and much more like a nu metal disc. His vision really upped the production value, making it competitive with other nu metal acts." Indeed, that well-seasoned sound is built on slammin' metallic riffs, guided in equal parts by a free flying virtuosity and fine tuned craftsmanship. And it's no wonder, lead guitarist and founder, Doug Doppler's musical pedigree is impeccable. He is one of music's most promising new guitar players. Doppler, a protégé of Joe Satriani, has also incorporated his teaching skills into his finely crafted Guitar 411 instructional DVD series. On the record, Doppler employs a 7-string guitar, as if six-strings weren't enough to cause some serious damage. "Steve Vai popularized the use of a 7-string guitar and influenced other 7-string slinging bands like Korn," Doppler explains. "I love the way the bottom strings bark at your tush like a ferocious rottweiler and the treble strings sing like a three hundred pound soprano. You can go from super low and chunky with your guitar parts to soaring high notes at the drop of a beat." A prime example of the versatility of the 7-string instrument can be heard on the track, "Bumpin' Grind," earmarked by its growling rhythms and Hendrix/SRV-esque sounding melodies and leads. Enlisting such luminaries as, Night Ranger/Ozzy Osbourne lead guitarist Brad Gillis, bass icons, Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm and acclaimed drummer Atma Anur, Nu-Instrumetal is primed for radio airplay. Significantly, the band's first gig was broadcast live in primetime on KSAN, San Francisco's number one classic rock station. Mining classic styles with a modern slant, Doppler, Inc.'s radio accessibility is indicative of things to come. "Fat Lip" kicks things off with a pulverizing punch, a velocity of notes and cranked aggressive thunder. "Wicked", one of the record's standout tracks, keeps the momentum rollin', hotwired to an infectious groove and kinetic kick. But make no mistake, this musical conglomeration, Doppler, Inc., ain't no one-trick metal pony. Showing off their versatility, "Fire Down Below" and "Wrecking Ball" grab you with more subtle grace, driven by rock solid, sturdy grooves, and cascading fretboard magic that rides to a thrilling climax. Changing gears dramatically, the evocative, "Like Father Like Son", is a welcome respite from the record's innate ferocity, boasting an unforgettable melody and some of the album's most expressive seven-string wizardry. "As a melancholy backdrop to the record, my father is terminally ill with lung cancer. This song pays homage to my Dad who over the course of the record was an unyielding force of support and love. This track offers the listener an opportunity for introspection and understanding of where I was at as the disc was being recorded. It also brings forth a contrapuntal emotional time stamp if you will." Fresh and forward thinking, Nu Instrumetal resonates with a distinct modern flavor, drawing together a minefield of loops, gizmos, and gadgetry. One device used to particularly strong effect on the record is the Vocoder, a human voice electronic simulator. "Pete suggested that we use a Vocoder to add a humanistic touch to a previously non-vocal genre," Doppler reveals. "We used that device on 'Wicked' to provide an extraterrestrial sonic hook not normally found in instrumental music. The Vocoder immediately pulls your ear right into the track." Despite the instrumental nature of the record, Doppler is quick to stress that he views his band as a nu metal act, not a relic of the past. "The idea was simply to create a nu metal instrumental record. I was much more interested in appealing to young rock audiences of today rather to the shred infested waters of yesteryear." While all the songs are instrumentals, you'll soon discover that no words were necessary on this strong collection of 11 tracks. Each song brands the listener with its own powerfully indelible imprint, creating an arresting aural story in your mind. So sit back, close your eyes, and let Doppler, Inc. take you on a "nu" mind-blowing trip of sound and fury. © 2000 by Starkult Promotion http://starkult.de/kuenstler/bandpage/D/116-doppler-inc.html

From surf rock in the '60s to the Steve Vai/Joe Satriani/Randy Coven school of shredding in the '80s, a variety of rock eras have had their instrumentalists. But in the post-Nevermind, post-'80s world of alternative rock, instrumentalists have been harder to find. Exactly where is the alterna-rock or alterna-metal equivalent of Vai, Satriani, or Coven? Well, such players do exist, but you have to know where to find them. One of them is Bay Area guitarist Doug Doppler, whose group Doppler, Inc. functions as an instrumental equivalent of Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack, or White Zombie on Nu Instrumental. This fresh-sounding effort successfully bridges the gap between a Vai/Satriani/Coven/Mads Eriksen type of aesthetic and the world of alterna-rock and alterna-metal/nu-metal. Doppler is, pure and simple, a shredder; he has the hell-bent-for-chops outlook that Vai and Satriani were known for in the '80s, but instead of trying to sound exactly like his heroes, he updates the shredder tradition. Doppler provides instrumental rock for post-'80s headbangers who have spent a lot of time listening to bands like Mushroomhead, Type O Negative, and Sevendust and are open to hearing what they might have sounded like as full-time instrumentalists. Of course, albums as chops-obsessed as Nu Instrumental are an acquired taste; back in the '80s, the people who were more likely to understand where Vai and Satriani were coming from tended to be professional musicians rather than laymen -- they had an appreciation of music that went beyond the superficial, and that is the sort of listener this 54-minute CD will likely appeal to. You don't have to be a professional musician to enjoy Doppler's considerable virtuosity, but it doesn't hurt. Regardless of who does or doesn't comprehend this 2005 release, Doppler is doing his part to fill a void -- and anyone who is looking for alt-metal's answer to Vai, Satriani, Coven, or Eriksen is advised to give Nu Instrumental a close listen. © Alex Henderson © 2013 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/nu-instrumental-mr0000845912

Doug Doppler, the mastermind behind new band Doppler, Inc is ready to take the world by storm. Combine elements of old school shredding with the nu-metal sound on their debut Nu-Instrumetal He has some special guests on the album to in the form of Night Ranger/Ozzy Osbourne lead guitarist Brad Gillis, bass icons, Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm. According to the website Doug’s goal with Doppler, Inc is to help bridge a gap musically between old school and the nu-metal acts of today. At first, I was thinking this is going to be a novelty act but after listening to it several times over the past few months, it’s going to be a keeper with return visitis to any one of my cd players. One of the standout tracks that gets replayed many times on my player is "Wicked", which has a very infectious metallic groove to it and add to it the use of a Vocoder was used to get the sci-fiish alien voice on it. This is something for rock fans across the spectrum from progressive to the nu-metal sound. All will enjoy what Doppler, Inc has to offer on their debut, Nu-Instrumetal. Reviewed by & © Ron Fuchs on July 26th, 2005 © 1998-2005, ProgNaut.com, All Rights Reserved. http://www.prognaut.com/reviews/doppler.html

Doug Doppler, former student of Joe Satriani (and personally picked by Joe to take over his teaching duties), formed a band in 2002 named simply Doppler, Inc. Their debut CD, "Nu Instrumental", features the amazing line-up of Doug Doppler (lead guitar), Steve Sarina (rhythm guitar), Uriah Duffy (bass), and Atma Anur (drums), with special guest appearances from Stu Hamm (bass), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Brad Gillis (guitar). They waste no time leaping into the instrumental rock fray with the opening track, "Fat Lip" - an intense, driving song that features all manner of cool sound FX, whammy pedal guitar antics, crunching rhythms, and more. This song really throws down the gauntlet and sets the pace for the entire 11 song CD. Fusing elements of traditional guitar-hero instrumentals, nu-metal excitement, and old-school metal, Doppler has crafted an incredible new sound that is NOT for the timid. Doppler, Inc. drive boldly and fearlessly into uncharted territory and invite you along for the ride...if you have the gumption to follow. Songs like "Wicked", "Funky Armadillo", "Bring it On", and "Bumpin' Grind" all rock hard with a funky edge and more string shredding than you'll find this side of a G-3 tour. Oh, yeah - Doppler has done G-3, too! "Nu Instrumental" is an incredible CD and hints towards great things to come. Bottom line: Grab it! © David "Skinny Devil" McLean, originally published at Tinfoil Music Date: Tuesday, March 22 2005 @ 13:24:06 GMT © David M. McLean http://skinnydevilmagazine.blogspot.ie/2013/01/doppler-inc-nu-instrumental.html

San Francisco’s Bay Area guitarist Doug Doppler’s Doppler, Inc’s “Nu Instrumental” album has been called “alt-metal's answer to Vai, Satriani, Coven, or Eriksen funk and metal with some hi tech flavour.” Doug is also a former student of Joe Satriani, and is usually compared to Howe, Satriani, Vai, etc, but he’s not always got his due credit for his incredible guitar technique. “Nu Instrumental” is a really good alt / nu-metal instrumental album. It’s got melodic playing, shredding, and an undertone of a “space age guitar” sound. Read a detailed interview with Doug Doppler @ http://www.guitar9.com/interview91.html and listen to his “Ground Zero” album [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 127 Mb]

TRACKS

1 Fat Lip 5:30
2 Fire Down Below 4:41
3 Wicked 4:18
4 Grind 4:08
5 Wrecking Ball 4:40
6 Funky Armadillo 4:35
7 Like Father, Like Son 4:36
8 Starcrossed Lovers 6:17
9 Bring It On 4:42
10 Bumpin' Grind 5:46
11 Five Hi 5:07

All tracks composed by Doug Doppler

MUSICIANS

Doug Doppler - Guitar
Steve Sarina - Guitar
Brad Gillis - 2nd Guitar Solo on "Bring It on"
Uriah Duffy - Bass
Billy Sheehan - Bass on "Bring It on"
Stu Hamm - Bass on "Five Hi"
Atma Anur - Drums

SHORT BIO / ALBUM REVIEW

Formed in 2002, Doppler, Inc. is a San Francisco based group which is the brainchild of lead guitarist/songwriter, Doug Doppler. Their debut release is an immaculately crafted marvel, juxtaposing savage riffery with inventive arrangements and inspired playing. The goal of the record was to bridge the gap between nu metal bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Saliva, old school metal acts like Metallica and Exodus and instrumental artists like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. "Nu Instrumetal" refers to that collision of stylistic influences. The well-seasoned sound is built on slammin' metallic riffs, guided in equal parts by a free flying virtuosity and fine tuned craftsmanship. And it's no wonder, lead guitarist and founder, Doug Doppler's musical pedigree is impeccable. He is one of music's most promising new guitar players and a protege of Joe Satriani. Prepare to blast off into a new sonic dimension with Doppler, Inc. on "Nu Instrumetal". © 1996-2013 Guitar Nine All Rights Reserved http://www.guitar9.com/nuinstrumetal.html