Zero Order Phase (Gold Disc Edition)

For his first solo album, 2008's Zero Order Phase, long-serving Nevermore (and previous Sanctuary) guitarist Jeff Loomis has unearthed the instrumental guitar hero template that was briefly made popular by Joe Satriani in the late '80s and early '90s, but which has since thrived only within the distinctly "selective" shredding community. Which is to say that one shouldn't expect to see Zero Order Phase, or any of its songs, rising up the pop charts, but they will surely find instant acceptance among shred aficionados and convert many new fans for the formidable seven-string stylist before its ten songs are through. Loomis' many admirers in the heavy metal arena will also get a huge kick from hearing him totally unleashed, center stage, since the foundations of tracks like "Shouting Fire at a Funeral," "Jato Unit," and "Devil Theory" are entrenched in the metallic music ingredients he is renowned for -- from the tone of his saw-toothed riffs and the clinical precision of his serpentine leads to the busy percussive foundation (replete with double kick drums) laid down by session drummer and original Nevermore member Mark Arrington. But Loomis can also break out of character for the benefit of shred fans who don't have metallic inclinations -- e.g., when launching into a sweeping ballads like "Azure Haze" and the admittedly very Satriani-esque "Sacristy," both of which prize timing and control over technical showboating. He also experiments with orchestrated synth backdrops and Arabian-flavored acoustic guitars while showcasing admirable chops on bass during the striking "Cashmere Shiv," and even gets his Malmsteen out on the baroque, neo-classical flamboyance of "Miles of Machines" -- now this is what "unleashing the fury" is all about! And virtuosic yet tasteful shredding is ultimately what Zero Order Phase is all about, making Jeff Loomis' overdue solo debut and every one of its, oh, 485,953 notes count, for devoted metal fans and guitar hero enthusiasts alike. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia