Black Utopia

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Black Utopia
Studio album by Derek Sherinian
Released	April 29, 2003
Genre	Instrumental rock
Length	45:02
Label	Inside Out Music
Producer	Derek Sherinian, Simon Phillips
Derek Sherinian chronology
Inertia (2001) Black Utopia (2003) Mythology (2004)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Black Utopia is the third solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. In addition to the returning members Zakk Wylde, Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, three new musicians joined Sherinian: bass guitarist Billy Sheehan and guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had toured in 2001 – and Al Di Meola. "One of the highlights of my career was flying to Miami to produce Yngwie, and the next day Al Di Meola - all for my record!" The song "Axis Of Evil", (co-written with KISS drummer Eric Singer), has Zakk Wylde and Yngwie Malmsteen in a guitar duel. Black Utopia was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with drummer Brian Tichy, and album cover artist . Black Utopia is Sherinian's best selling solo record to date.

In Japan, the cover of Black Utopia was altered to remove the cross in the title; Derek Sherinian commented that the cross "meant nothing" and was added for aesthetic purposes.^[2]

The title of the track "Nightmare Cinema" comes from an alternate name used by Dream Theater during the period when Sherinian was a member of the band. Dream Theater would occasionally perform encores under that name, with each band member playing a different instrument then their primary one.

Track listing[]

1. "The Fury" – 0:52 (Sherinian)
2. "The Sons of Anu" – 7:10 (Sherinian/Tichy)
   • I. For the Glory of Enki
   • II. Of the Ashes of Ur
   • III. Return of the Nephilim
3. "Nightmare Cinema" – 5:25 (Sherinian/Tichy)
4. "Stony Days" – 6:17 (Sherinian/Franklin/Phillips)
5. "Starcycle" – 5:04 (Hammer) (Jeff Beck cover)
6. "Axis of Evil" – 6:09 (Sherinian/Singer)
7. "Gypsy Moth" – 1:59 (Sherinian)
8. "Sweet Lament" – 3:14 (Sherinian)
9. "Black Utopia" – 8:50 (Sherinian/Tichy)

Musicians[]

• Derek Sherinian - keyboards
• Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar on tracks 1, 2 and 6
• Al Di Meola - nylon guitar on tracks 2 and 7, lead guitar on track 2
• Zakk Wylde - guitar on tracks 3, 6 and 9
• Steve Lukather - guitar on tracks 4, 5 and 8
• Brian Tichy - additional guitars on tracks 2, 3, 6 and 9
• Billy Sheehan - bass guitar on tracks 2, 6 and 9
• Tony Franklin - fretless bass guitar on tracks 2-9
• Jerry Goodman - violin on tracks 2, 3, 6-9
• Simon Phillips - drums on tracks 2-6, 8 and 9
• Mike Shapiro - percussion on track 7

References[]