Nita Strauss

Controlled Chaos sumerian Fiery solo debut from Alice Cooper/Iron Maidens virtuoso guitar heroine.

With the CV she’s got, you’d expect Nita Strauss to be a star in any band, and indeed she is. Here, however, she’s echoed her heroes by making a solo instrumental guitar album, touching on the likes of Steve Vai and Joe Satriani in the process, plus some of the retro-gamer colour of Dragonforce’s Herman Li.

So it’s of little surprise that Controlled Chaos is an XXL fest of dizzying neo-classical theatrics, 80s power metal sensibilities and soaring moody moments. And the metallic influence of the bands she’s played in is felt in numerous blast-beats, twin-lead flourishes and power-chord crunches, while the mellower likes of Hope Grows prove she’s got soul as well as speed.

It must be said, however, that there’s nothing massively memorable here. Impressive and entertaining, sure, but further experience of writing this kind of music will enhance her hooks and tunes. The ingredients are there, let’s see what happens.