Commander In Chief
Evolution

April 2012
Released: 2012, Indie
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: JP

This is cool. A female shredder. You don’t see that as often. I mean really off the top of your head how many can you name…Batten, The Great Kat…? Well gender is a bit irrelevant when it comes to making music because when you put the album on the headphones you can’t really tell who wrote or played what based strictly on the music. Vocals, sure that’s a different matter but just playing? A good musician is a good musician and the commander is really, really good.



This is the third EP by ‘The Commander’. She is backed up by a couple of guys and they currently are an independent act from Italy. EVOVLUTION is short and sweet, four songs that last 17 minutes and really wanted me wanting more. On the cover of the EP she is dressed in a type of leader of marching band uniform reminding me of when Malmsteen did that back in the 80’s.



The four songs are just a tasty hint, lots and lots of shred based guitar backed by her soaring high vocals. You have to hear the note she hits at the end of ‘Thou’! Stratospheric! The simple songs are in the three to five minute range primarily constructed as a showcase for her guitar talent. She can really play, the songs are mostly fast and so are the solos and riffs.



I’m a fan of instrumental and solo albums in general so this is right up my alley, although I appreciate the fact that this style, at times, has a limited appeal. That’s a shame because EVOLUTION is a great little EP and demonstrates nicely that she can stand shoulder to shoulder and play with any guy out there. Not that it is a competition, but at times in this narrow sub-genre, where technical proficiency and mastery of an instrument is valued very highly, it can be competitive. The Commander In Chief has what it takes and for all you guitar aficionados out there, EVOLUTION is certainly worth checking out.