Nevermore guitarist Jeff
Loomis has unleashed one hell of a fiery instrumental guitar shredding
album. It takes you back to when guys like Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, Yngwie
Malmsteen, Marty Friedman and a handful of others reigned supreme. These
men were masters of their instrument and to hear their electrically charged
hands careen up and down the fret board was something to behold. A couple
of the only differences between this disc and those shredders mentioned
would be Loomis' progressive-thrash minded attack. The fact that Jeff has
spent years crafting Nevermore tunes has made the guitarist a songwriter
first and soloist second. Oh yes Jeff can shred, but honestly this album
does not really offer anything out of the ordinary for Jeff. There are plenty
of excellent songs on ‘Zero Order Phase’ but if you have heard
any solo he has done on any Nevermore album or otherwise, you won't be too
surprised by this album. I'd love to hear Jeff do some jazz or blues moments
in his solos. Even though most of the recording was done by the man himself,
some other amazing musician’s are featured on ‘Zero Order Chaos’,
including drummer Mark Arrington, guitarist Ron Jarzombek and former Nevermore
/ current cannibal corpse guitarist Pat O'Brien. This is basically a thrash
metal album with just guitars, somewhat the same as Marty Friedman’s
'Dragons Kiss'. Unfortunately I would have to say that is isn’t as
inventive as ‘Dragons Kiss’, still, if you are a guitar freak
and love his playing and want some amazing guitar metal then get ‘Zero
Order Phase’.
Shouting Fire at a Funeral
Opulent Maelstrom
Jato Unit
Azure Haze
Cashmere Shiv
Race Against Disaster
Sacristy
Devil Theory
Miles of Machines
Departure
Rating: 70
Reviewed By: Cameron Edney
- http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints |
