VELVET THUNDER

The Chilean guitarist, producer and song writer Nasson has been very busy in recent years and has built up a very solid and reliable reputation so it is no real surprise that he has finally managed to find the time to release his long overdue solo album.

Those in the know will be aware of his sterling work with Chaos Magic and Sinner’s Blood – albums in their own right that are very much required listening – and he has actually got some of those musicians to perform on Scars which shows the respect they all have for each other. Nasson actually showcases his versatility by playing guitars, bass, piano and programming as well as being the main voice of the album and what a powerful singer he is too. Obviously, with the sort of talent that he so obviously has then Nasson is a name that we are all going to hear much more of in future! He is joined by drummer Rodrigo Leiva with the sublime Caterina Nix of Chaos Magic supplying backing vocals and what a pair the two of them make with her wonderful operatic tones working in perfect harmony with his more traditional metal voice.

Scars features 11 perfectly formed and superbly presented progressive metal tracks with the merest hint of Evergrey for comparison as this is all about Nasson and his own unique sound as he makes his own statement in rock which he does with great style and authority. Several of the tracks feature guest appearances with Gui Oliver (Landfall, Mayank), Mizuho Lin (Semblant) and James Robledo (Sinner’s Blood) joining Nasson and Nix on We Are The Army, the man who gets everywhere, Alessandro Del Vecchio, performs a duet with Nasson on When It Rains, Mistheria (Bruce Dickinson, Rob Rock) plays synthesizer on Mother Moon and Ignacio Torres plays lead guitar on Not Today, Bringer of Sorrow and We Are The Army. It can be a temptation to overuse guests but Nasson is a master producer and he knows exactly just what he needs every performer give and all add their own special magic without affecting the overall balance of the album.

I always expected Nasson’s debut would be something special and it is that and more as Nasson shows he has a perfect voice and instrumental skills too to make this a real delight of an album. Nasson is one heck of a guitarist too and Scars is full to bursting with his trademark riffs and solos but it is when he and Nix combine that the real magic begins.