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Konstantinos Karamitroudis, better known to everyone as Gus G., is a brilliant guitar hero and acrobat from Thessaloniki, Greece. He made his name mostly during his years with the famous ‘Prince of Darkness’ Ozzy Osbourne, and power metal fans know him well for leading Firewind and for past stints in Dream Evil, Nightrage and Mystic Prophecy, among others. Considering his whole career, he came relatively late to the decision to start recording and releasing solo studio albums.
Quantum Leap is Gus’s fifth solo studio album. This time he decided to record nothing but instrumental tracks, so the new record should be seriously interesting for anyone who follows the likes of Joe Satriani. But Gus G. is a sworn guitar shredder, so it’ll be especially appealing to fans of harder-edged guitar wizardry on a strictly instrumental level, the kind Marty Friedman and Tony MacAlpine are famous for.
Well, the years of high ambition and naive impetuosity are behind him, and this new instrumental (!) release tops Gus’s 2001 studio debut “Guitar Master” across the board, which was also entirely instrumental. Simple as that. Credit goes to the artistic maturity that defines and accompanies Gus today. This time Gus G. recorded the album as a hard-hitting all-instrumental trio, and within the framework of the sharp-edged metal phrases in the compositions, his guitar also takes over the role of the vocalist, which was an extra artistic challenge for him. It’s something he hadn’t tackled in the last twenty years of his musical career. The man handled it all brilliantly. You have to keep in mind that our dear Konstantinos is an exceptionally musical player. There’s no need to stress that he’s classically trained. Every move he makes is measured so that it serves one goal: highly infectious musicality within the compositions. Half-measures are off the table. The phrasing is often fiercely razor-sharp, and there are quite a few moments on the album that could serve as the basis for a Firewind track. That’s clearly hinted at, among other places, in the textbook power metal gallop of the title track.
Gus G. has put together a collection of varied songs that build up great dynamics and flow, which makes this a proper instrumental guitar album that’s a real pleasure to listen to. The album offers calmer moments that highlight Gus’s musical maturing, as in the excellent Night Driver. A deeply atmospheric, dreamy track, it carries a pinch of bluesy flavor in its vivid soloing passages. Every finesse is added and measured out with an exceptionally refined touch, which strengthens the distinct artistic character not just of the record but also clearly reflects Gus’s musical uniqueness. The seductive, inventive phrasing and the powerful, punchy rhythmic drive of the bass and drums keep “Quantum Leap” running at a high pace of predatory metal punch and explosiveness.
The last track, Force Majeure, is a fascinating power metal march from which you could easily spin off any Firewind song you like. What sets it apart is that you get four minutes of outstanding dialogue between two guitars. UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore joins in as a special guest, and he’s also well known for his own solo studio work. The lead melodies are played in triple-guitar harmonies. The different musical sensibilities of the two guitarists come through clearly as they trade solo escapades in a crossfire, and that gives the track a special charm at every stage of its development. Intense shifts in mood ripple through it accordingly. It’s an excellent pick for the album’s final atmospheric crescendo and certainly one of its highlights.
If you miss the vocals, the bonus CD might console you, with seven tracks in live versions. Take it more as a bit of fun, especially with the covers of the Thin Lizzy and Dire Straits originals. Still, it’s a nice extra that will please fans of Gus’s guitar style. In short: mission accomplished. “Quantum Leap” is an excellent all-instrumental guitar album of exuberant power metal shredding that radiates the musician’s compositional maturity and refinement. It’s varied and flexible in ideas, downright wildly playful in its ultra-fast moments, and the production keeps an organic feel, as if the trio were playing it live. If Gus G. keeps up this attitude on future solo studio albums, there’ll be nothing to complain about.
Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Track list:
Line-up:
Gus G. – guitar, keyboards
Dennis Ward – bass
Guest musician:
Vinnie Moore – guitar on
