THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Freshly graduated from Berklee College of Music, the talented guitarist Nili Brosh self-released with classmates an all-instrumental album smelling the instrumental metal of "shredding" guitarists and leaning towards the adventurous world of jazz-rock.

Nili Brosh is a versatile guitarist, and it's a good thing as it spices up her musical world. She is indeed able to deliver truly heart-breaking solos on one hand. The opening elegy, but also the anthemic ballad "Through The Looking Glass" and the intricate "Lost In Suburbia", highlight particularly this side of the young musician. Then, on the other hand, her playing can turn impetuous. First, "Never be enough" with its galloping rhythms and epic guitar bring back the ghost of good old traditional heavy metal. The crying and echoing guitar retains a strong Iron maiden feel to it in places. In other moments, the guitar becomes hysterical with some nice wah wah effects. Let me tell you that this tune is completely crazy, you will tap your feet and bang your head to the petrifying rhythms and astonishing guitar layers. No wonder that she later participated in a tribute to Iron Maiden! The hasty "Typsy Gypsy" is clearrly haunted by the spirit of Yngwie Malmsteen, as it retains that specific neo-classical flavour, where fiery notes strut about as a peacock proud to show its dazzling plumage, and here are backed by some obsessing tremolos. Further on with fast rhythms, a guitar album without a boogie rocker wouldn't be possible, and the amphetamine-laden "Wafer", with strong echoes of Deep Purple's "Highway Star" in the guitar assaults, is there to prove it once again. Besides, the infectious grooves of funk music are not forgotten with the rhythmic "High Strung" and a hip hop-flavoured "Placebo", that I would take any day without hesitation in a clinical trial if it were as exhilarating! Nili can also spring a surprise. In fact, "Hat Tricks" might seem to be a sad bossa nova at first sight. But then a spanish guitar turns it to a rhythmic tune, an aquatic guitar gives it an ambient feel, and to top it, whirling guitars add some threat.

Without the shadow of a doubt, a new shredding star was born with this debut album. Still in her early 20s, Nili Brosh shows a great maturity for her age. Her solos flow like a river, flamboyant and humble in turn. From start to end, this album is a well of stunning moments, and a proof that shredding with class is still possible in the 2010's.