Talking about the White Russian guitarist, Victor Smolski, you soon discover that it's impossible to restrict yourself to just one superlative if you want to do justice to the unusual talent and the artistic diversity of this unique musician. He has made his mark not only as a guitarist and songwriter with the German metal act, Rage. His song 'Straight To Hell', for example, has served as the soundtrack for two German movie productions and earned heaps of praise in the process. Smolski also continues to impress fans, colleagues and critics alike as a solo musician, and his second solo album, Majesty & Passion, outshines everything he has done to date. The album's basic concept, the realisation of his ambitious project and the list of the renowned guest musicians is unparalleled even on an international level.

On Majesty & Passion, Smolski transports music by Johann Sebastian Bach into the present, making it come alive with a new, surprising sound and a contemporary flair without changing the original notes. Modern versions of classical Bach compositions like the concert in D minor for violin, oboe and orchestra, concert in D minor for two violins and orchestra or the suites No. 1, 2 and 4 were recorded with the Inspector Symphony Orchestra (founded by Smolski) in Minsk and then complemented by his amazing guitar and numerous guests.

Next to Smolski himself, there are his two Rage colleagues, Peavy Wagner (bass) und Mike Terrana (drums, voice), but also a number of close friends from the metal genre, like Steve Smyth (Testament, Nevermore), Stefan Leibing (Primal Fear), Bernd Aufermann (Running Wild), Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force) and Sascha Gerstner (Helloween). Smolski takes special pride in having enlisted the former Scorpions guitarist, Uli Jon Roth, for his first guest appearance ever, as well as Germany's best jazz guitarist, Michael Sagmeister. Roth's violin-like 7-string Sky guitar (just listen to the 2nd chapter of the concert in D minor for two violins and orchestra!) or indeed Sagmeister's warm, inimitable guitar sound are without doubt among the highlights on Majesty & Passion. The list of illustrious guests is rounded off by prog-rock act Forces@Work, guitarists Marcus Deml (Errorhead) and Alexander Rastopchin (Average White Band), drummer Dirk Zimmermann (Angelika Milster, De/Vision) and bassist Jürgen Knautz (Charlie Mariano) – not forgetting two very special musicians: Frank Itt contributed his bass lines to the album, as well as the mix of Majesty & Passion, and last but not least there's Andrey Zybrich, keyboarder and Smolski's long-standing friend from their Inspector days and responsible for the orchestra recordings in Minsk, who supported Smolski in both word and deed.

Still: the true sensation on this album is not so much the appearance of many renowned guest musicians and their technically accomplished performances, but particularly the style with which Victor Smolski gives each Bach number its own, unique character. Next to his tough but intricate heavy metal, there are excursions into the world of prog-rock plus a number of fusion adventures. At the same time, Smolski ensured that his adaptations are always based on Bach's classical originals, that the orchestra plays an important role and that the fascinating spirit of the original compositions remains intact.

Two more things deserve to be mentioned: next to the new versions of the Bach compositions, Smolski presents four bonus tracks on Majesty & Passion that stem from a previously unreleased EP, recorded at the end of the Nineties – another chance for Smolski's fans to submerge themselves in the maestro's diverse soundscapes. And all those who need additional proof of Smolski's thoroughness in realising this album should take to heart the original Bach quote (recited by Mike Terrana) at the beginning of this album: „My entire life has passed among deaf majesties, deaf city councils and deaf cities ... it is nearly enough to drive a sane man to the edge of madness. I was born into this deaf world with nothing but the passion and innate ability to play organ. All this was bequeathed unto me from the Bach bloodline" were reportedly Bach's last words. There can be no doubt about it: Johann Sebastian Bach would love what Victor Smolski has made of his compositions.

Victor Smolski was born on February 1, 1969, in the White Russian capital of Minsk. His father is Dmitri Smolski, one of Eastern Europe's most renowned composers and a professor at the White Russian academy of music. Victor received formal piano and cello training from the age of six and enrolled with the Minsk music school in 1984, where he earned a jazz and rock guitar diploma. He went on to play with the country's most popular band, Pesniary. Following musical differences, he moved on to join Inspector, who came to Germany's Ruhr area thanks to their contacts with Frank Bornemann (Eloy) in the early Nineties. Their album, Russian Prayer, came out in 1992, and in 1993, Smolski played the Roskilde Festival with his solo project New Heaven and released his Destiny EP. He then worked as a studio musician and guitar teacher before he enlisted with Berlin's prog-metal band, Odyssey, in 1995, releasing the albums Nailed To The Shade and Signs. Autumn 1999 saw Smolski sign up with Rage, with whom he has released four studio albums and one live recording (including a DVD) to date. He presented his solo debut, The Heretic, in 2000, followed by his second studio recording, Majesty & Passion