Borislav
Mitic is a virtuoso guitarist hailing from Montreal, Canada.
He was born in Belgrade, Serbia where he first picked up the guitar
at the age of 11. In the beginning, he was inspired by artists such
as Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix and Michael Schenker among many
others. Borislav was self-taught and honed his craft by learning
from the records of his musical heroes.
He
progressed very quickly and by the age of 18 was already considered
the hottest new guitar talent in his country. It was in this period
that Borislav started to write and record his first instrumental
compositions influenced by classical music as well as by the works
of top guitarists of the era such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai
and Joe Satriani.
During
the next couple of years, Borislav formed his own band and had many
live and TV performances as well as radio broadcasts which all led
to the recording of his first instrumental solo album titled "Fantasy".
His display of perfect command over the instrument and stellar songwriting
on that album cemented his legacy as the greatest modern Serbian
guitar virtuoso. Then came the Balkan wars of the 90s...
In
1997, Borislav sent some of his guitar works to the legendary US
producer Mike Varney who is the owner of Shrapnel Records known
for discovering players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, Paul
Gilbert... to name a few. To Borislav's surprise Varney called him
back telling him that he was so impressed by what he had heard that
he decided to make the effort of bringing Borislav from Serbia to
North America by offering him a record deal. Borislav was also given
the opportunity to co-write and play on the debut solo album of
the singer John West (Artension, Royal Hunt). Unfortunately due
to some US visa issues regarding the troubled situation in Borislav's
home country this collaboration did not happen.
In
1998, Borislav signs with Shrapnel records and in doing so becomes
the first Serbian rock musician ever to get a recording contract
with a US label. He then relocates to North America for easier working
conditions where he starts preparations and pre-production work
on his debut album for Shrapnel. At the same time, Borislav is contacted
by the legendary singer Phil Mogg (UFO) with a tempting offer to
fill in the shoes of Michael Schenker and co-write a new album.
Sadly, due to the obligations regarding his solo effort Borislav
regretfully could not commit to this collaboration and left the
spot to other guitarists waiting in line.
In
1999, Borislav's solo album hits the stores worldwide and was welcomed
by guitar fans and critics alike as a breath of fresh air on a music
scene flooded with various “corporate quasi music”. Unfortunately
lacking sufficient support and promotion by the label, the album
fell short of Borislav's expectations but still established a cult
status among the rock guitar community. With a growing reputation
as a leading young talent Borislav scores endorsement deals with
ESP guitars, Dean Markley strings, Maxon, Guyatone effects once
again becoming the first Serbian artist to achieve such a feat.
Alas,
in spite of the initial success, the sad news of looming war disaster
in his fatherland throwBorislav off balance personally and artistically
and lead him to a period of personal questioning and introspection.
After a year of inactivity he gets approached by the virtuoso keyboard
player Vitalj Kuprij with an offer to make a duo album which Borislav
accepts but in the end the job falls into the hands of more known
guitarist Tony Macalpine.
In
2000, Borislav re-releases his first album “Fantasy” making it available
to fans worldwide. Soon after that, Borislav prepares another new
instrumental project but Shrapnel Records suggested that a vocal
oriented album would better fit the current music market situation.
Mike
Varney introduces Borislav to Las Vegas based singer Chris Logan
(MSG, Jake E. Lee) and the two start a long distance collaboration
sending demos back and forth. Borislav invests another year writing
the new vocal songs for this project only to find out that Chris
Logan would be joining MSG in the studio and a subsequent tour with
Michael Schenker and not him. In an attempt to salvage the vocal
album, Borislav hooks up with Montreal-based singer Eric Forrest
(Voivod, E-Force) but after some initial collaboration Eric Forrest
decides to move to France in pursuit of his own solo career in a
style of music he was more accustomed to thus leaving the Borislav's
vocal project on an indefinite "on-hold" status.
In
2004, Borislav gets invited to play a series of concerts in his
home country Serbia for the first time since his departure to North
America. In spite of his long absence, it turned out as a success
and was a great emotional reunion with his Serbian fans who never
forgot him. He was also fascinated to find out that some national
radio programs (like radio 202) enlisted his songs in a permanent
rotation.
Borislav
then decides that he would return to the instrumental music path
once again but finds that the situation in the music industry has
changed dramatically. Due to the influx of Internet technology/culture
and the rise of global illegal file sharing download the very existence
of smaller artists and independent labels became a hard struggle
now. To meet these new challenges, Borislav decided to build his
own recording facility in order to cut future studio expenses while
gaining more artistic freedom to create at his own discretion.
An
invitation comes again from Vitalij Kuprij for a guest appearance
on the album "Forward And Beyond" (Lion Music) and Borislav
plays one of his finest solos in a duel exchange with Vitalij on
a song "Message Of Hope". Other guest guitarists on the
album include Michael Romeo (Symphony X), George Bellas, etc.
In
2007, Borislav collaborates more closely with Japanese endorsing
companies Maxon and Guyatone making demo presentations of some of
their FX product line. He even gets on "advisory board"
regarding sound design of new Maxon overdrive pedal OD9 pro+ alongside
Scott Henderson, Lyle Workman (Sting), Adam Dukiewitz (Killswitch
Engage), Chris Traynor (Helmet). This was a big honor since Maxon
was the original designer of the overdrive tube screamer pedals
which many legendary players (like SRV) used to forge their historic
signature sounds.
Borislav
makes an appearance on the 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, California
as a demonstrator for the US guitar effects distributor Godlyke.
He also gets invited to guest on Uli Jon Roth Sky Academy and US
tour but was unable to participate because of conflicting schedules.
An invitation comes for a guest appearance on a progressive Metal
project called "Expedition Delta" where he contributes
two solos alongside other guests like Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery).
Borislav’s
songs appear on two Shrapnel Records compilations “This is Shredding,
Vol.2” and “Shrapnel’s Super Shredders : Neoclassical” published
in 2009 alongside Richie Kotzen, Tony Macalpine, Paul Gilbert, Marty
Friedman, Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, Greg Howe and Ron “Bumblefoot”
Thal.
Borislav
decides that the moment was right for a new aggressive and uncompromising
Metal instrumental album that his fans have been waiting for. He
shelves all the old music works and focuses in 2009 on writing,
producing and engineering entirely new instrumental songs that will
become his arguably best work yet - a concept album titled "The
Absolute". One song from the new album titled "Hidden"
gets played on ESP Guitars website for few months as a "premiere"
introduction to the album.
Borislav
chooses to release this new masterpiece through the currently leading
progressive metal label Lion Music known for working with artists
like Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck), Joe Stump, Richie
Kotzen , Vitalij Kuprij, Chris Poland among others. The album is
due for release in December 2009 and will deliver what all his fans
were waiting for - a relentless guitar attack that should satisfy
the musical appetites of any true Metal guitar fan!