MARTY FRIEDMAN announces his new album “Drama” and shares the single “Illumination” – Digital Mediaverse

The legend of the guitar, MARTY FRIEDMAN (ex-Megadeth), will release his new album, «Drama«, on May 17 via Frontiers Music srl. Pre-order the album hereand see a visualizer for the album’s opening song, “Illumination“, next.

The presence of MARTY FRIEDMAN in the world of Japanese music, guitar, and pop culture is baffling, strange, and nothing short of inspiring. From its revolutionary beginnings with Cacophonyalong with the legendary Jason Beckerto his fundamental role in the rise of Megadeth to the peak of popularity with his impressive range and unorthodox melodic sense, MARTY has cemented his status as a unique guitar icon.

Today, MARTY FRIEDMAN proudly announces his latest solo album, «Drama“, in which he slightly revises the atmospheric elements of his acclaimed 1992 release, “scenes«, elevating them to a modern and exotic collection of epic, extravagant and unapologetically emotional mini-symphonies.

Topics like «Illumination” and “Mirage» transport listeners to captivating realms, evoking sudden tears and chills. The entire album highlights the fascinating melodies of MARTYits revolutionary arrangements and heartbreaking motifs, even more so than any of his previous works.

Recorded in Italy, where MARTY had access to a treasure trove of vintage guitars along with his modern signature models, “Drama» is a pure delight for anyone who appreciates music that awakens emotions.

Since moving to Japan in 2003, MARTY has become a household name even beyond the world of music. He speaks fluent Japanese and has appeared in over 900 Japanese television shows of all types, as well as films and advertisements, including an advertising campaign for Coca Cola / fanta which lasted more than two years. He was recently appointed Ambassador of Japanese Heritage by the Japanese government, which also commissioned him to compose the «Japan Heritage Theme Song«, recorded by MARTY and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and that is interpreted in official acts related to the government. She has played 5 times at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Marathonthe last in March 2024. Three books have been published in Japan about the life of MARTY and a new full-length autobiography will be published around the world later this year.

In addition to his legendary work with Cacophony and Megadeth, MARTY He has released fifteen solo albums, beginning in 1988 with “Dragon’s Kiss«, and has earned awards for multi-platinum, platinum and gold album sales in twenty-seven countries, earning seven Grammy nominations to date. In recent years, FRIEDMAN has launched the distinguished line Tokyo Jukeboxwhich, as the title suggests, is a series of albums of Japanese cover songs that began with Tokyo Jukebox in 2009, Tokyo Jukebox 2 in 2011 and, more recently, Tokyo Jukebox 3 in 2020. This series has become the favorite of Japanese music fans around the world.

MARTY has performed several times in the Tokyo Domehe Budokan and on the main Japanese stages. He has toured Japan countless times with his music alone, as well as alongside many legendary Japanese stars. Since the launch of Tokyo Jukebox 3 in 2020, MARTY He has toured Japan twice, performed as a soloist with three major symphony orchestras, and made several television appearances, most recently with Yoshiki of X Japan.

Since the pandemic, MARTY and his band have made two tours of the US and plan to do as many more for «Drama«.

Members of the band:
Marty Friedman – Guitar
Wakazaemon – Low
Gregg Bissonette – Battery
Mika Maruki – Piano, keyboard and synthesizer
Hiyori Okuda – Cello
Miho Chigyo – Fiddle

Voices in «Dead of Winter«: Chris Brooks (Like A Storm)
Voice in «2 Rebels«: Steven Baquero Vargas
Under «Mirage«: O Lubianiker
Rhythm guitar in «Thrill City«: Naoki Morioka
Keys and synthesizer in «Sanctuary«: Takuro Iga
Battery in «Thrill City«: Chargeeeeee

Additional Recording: Yukiko Takada, Jordan Rudess, Naoki Morioka, Maki Furugaki, Chris Brooks, Matt Brooks, Kent Brooks, Brian Becvar