The Commander in Chief

THIS SEDULOUS SEVEN-STRINGER PUTS A COMPLETELY NEW SPIN ON CLASSICAL-INSPIRED GUITAR MUSIC

- Adam Kovac

PICTURE IN YOUR mind the stereotypical neoclassical shredder — and not just the tight leather pants, flowing, feathered locks of hair and frilly, open-buttoned shirts that turned Ynwgie Malmsteen into an international sex symbol. Instead, picture the playing: lots of arpeggios, blazing speed and a distorted tone that would make Bach weep. On her new album, guitar goddess the Commander in Chief (nee Berit Hagen) flips that on its ear. Though she’s still using an Ibanez seven-string, The Virtuoso is a purely clean-toned affair: emphasis on the classical, rather than the neo.