Nita Strauss – Controlled Chaos

5/10

Nita Strauss first solo album. And without falling into Yngwie J Malmsteens latter days Formula 1 fretboard races she focuses more on his melodic side. More than once I can hear both Jeff Scott Soto and Marc Boals vocals in my head in her melodies. Here it´s more Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, than Yngwie on this album. And that are a good thing in my world.
Now! I am in very deep water here; since instrumental music in my record collection is negligible I am catching on to the imaginary vocals and not so much the quality of her performance as a guitar player as such. Even though I must say I am impressed. Far from an album like “Passion and warfare” or “Surfing With an alien” but still she gets a good mention so to speak. She might have to prove herself as a female but might save her a bit of the worst of the downward comments when she´s not singing.

Going from a song like “Marian Trench” to “Here with you” she exposes herself as a contender for the league just below “G3”( a tour put together by Joe Satriani, where he invites fellow guitarists) .”Hope Grows” is where you can hear Mr Satriani in her playing. Listening to the album throws you around the metal world from Arch Enemy, At The Gates and even a tribute to Metallica comes crashing in here(very obvious when you hear it). Never flashing her ego and skills too much. At first I wasn´t really impressed by the cover of “The Show Must Go On” but the more I listen to the album, it suits perfectly as a closing song.

ARTIST: NITA STRAUSS
TITLE: CONTROLLED CHAOS
LABEL: SUMERIAN RECORDS
DATE OF RELEASE: 18-11-16
RATE: 5/10
STAND OUT TRACK: OUR DESPERATE HOUR