“We want to push shred as far as possible.” Though Uncured's Zak and Rex Cox aren't yet able to buy a beer, they've already managed to turn high-octane guitar upside down.
“We want to push shred as far as possible,” says 17-year-old Rex Cox, who along with his 19-year-old brother, Zak, comprises the blitzing twin-axe portion of the New York-based progressive metal band Uncured. “People such as Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani were the first guys to take shred to an extreme level, but we want to be part of the new wave of players that builds on the past and surpasses all expectations.”
By all measures, the Cox brothers are off to a good start on making that goal a reality. Since forming Uncured in 2016, they’ve seen their debut album, 2017’s Medusa [Conclave Studios], hailed as a modern-metal classic. The guitarists’ intricate, high-speed solos on barnstorming tracks such as “Dilate,” “Myopic,” and “Stygian Pit” are already high on budding shredders’ “must-learn-to-play” lists. Here’s how the 7-and 8-string wonders, who aren’t yet old enough to buy a beer, have turned high-octane guitar upside down.
Which guitarists were your gateways into the world of shred?
Rex: Jeff Loomis. His solo work is incredible, but I also like what he did with his Conquering Dystopia project. He’s my favorite guitarist.
Zak: He’s certainly mine, as well. I love how Jeff Loomis and Keith Merrow work together in that band. It’s sort of how Rex and I work. They inspired us, in the way that we see the interplay between two guitars.
What kind of practice regimen do you guys have?
Rex: We’re pretty strict about practicing. One thing that has really helped me is that I learned how to practice slowly. A lot of