Carlos Lichman - Firestorm (2007)Self-released

Carlos Lichman is a shred guitarist from Porto Alegre in Brazil. This classically trained musician played in a band Neverland and recorded some stuffs before aforementioned solo debut, e.g. "Planet Rock" (Single, 2003) and "Intense Guitar Playing" (EP, 2005), however his playing can be also audible on "Celebrando Mozart" Live DVD from the year 2006.

Although "Firestorm" is his debut album, here are collected many less and better known artist. Carlos himself played most guitar parts and keys on one track. He was backed by two drummers (Alexandre Olly, Sandro Moreira), two bassists (Leandro Berpo, Vinicius Rym) and a keyboardist Paulo Miguel Bublitz. They are this "less known" part of the stuff. The "better known" one are guest guitar players: Kiko Loureiro (Angra), Pablo G. Soler (neoclassical shredmaster from Argentina), Francesco Fareri (Italian shred wizard) and Jim Horne (jazz/fusion guitar virtuoso from the USA). But the main figure of "Firestorm" is Mr. Lichman whose heavy lead parts are crossed with melodic and cutting solos. His music is larded with shredding tones, however here are also some quiet fragments like Thoinot Arbeau's "Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie (Reincarnation)" that can make you think of Renaissance dances. It is played in calm and minor mood, so it gets a great contrast in comparison to the rest tracks. The third track "Key To The Shred City" was recorded in honour of two shred tycoons - Tony MacAlpine and Marty Friedman as they are one of Carlos' greatest inspirations. Yes, there were such tracks like Friedman's "Forbidden City" and MacAlpine's "Key To The City", however this piece of music is performed in definitely different style than compositons from Marty's "Dragon's Kiss" and Tony's "Maximum Security". Anyway, it is one of the most melodic tracks with powerful rhythmicity.

Carlos is a chap who attacks our ears with rhythmic lead parts, numerous shred quips and some atmospheric fragments as well. Mr. Lichamn showed us a complex architecture of shredding genre. I can praise him for the album's title, since it reflects his music as a stormy, furious, fiery and belched out stuff. "Firestorm" is a good load of decent shredding power.