CD REVIEW: ROGER PEDERSEN – Guitar Madness and Other Nice Songs

CD REVIEW: ROGER PEDERSEN – Guitar Madness and Other Nice Songs
West Audio Productions
May 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7 ½ /10

Norwegian world-reknowned shredder Roger Pederson’s third solo album includes a few surprises sure to surprise anyone who thinks speed and feel and melody cannot co-exist in guitar music.

Mostly instrumental, these tracks range from progressive metal through to neo-classical acoustic – all played with astonishing dexterity and finesse, lightning fast, but without sacrificing melody or emotional impact.

Imagine, if you will, a combination of Satriani feel, Malmsteen speed and prog chops, shooting fingertip sparks in every stylistic direction, and you might have a vague idea of what Pedersen is all about.

Traversing through many moods almost schizophrenically, Guitar Madness and Other Nice Songs is a restless trip, but a rewarding one for fans of instrumental guitar – made irresistible by Pedersen’s sheer mad skills.

The album closes with a surprise: Save Me From Myself, the sole track here with vocals, provided by Johannes Stole. It’s a radio-friendly number with a Bryan Adams/Queen feel to it, and rather different to the rest of the album – not that that should be any impediment to the listener’s enjoyment, when the entire album is eclectic, manic, and rawly thrilling.

Category: CD Reviews