German Schauss - The Lightspeeder
author: Mikolaj Furmankiewicz
German Schauss is another, after Marcel Wittfeld, German guitarist who left the fatherland to improve his skills at American masters. But, let's start in turn. German picked up the guitar when he was twelve. Before long, he started to take private lessons, and, in the meantime, he was listening to his very favorite instrumentalists - Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert. It turned out that the only one, natural way of German's musical development is enrolling at the Munich Guitar Institute. MGI prepared German very well for educational challanges that they were waiting for him in the USA. In 1998, he started studying at the Berklee College of Music under an outstanding musicians' and lecturers' supervision - Joe Stump, Jon Finn and Wayne Krantz. During his educational period, he received scholars and raked in some music awards, and finished Berklee with honors (magna cum laude)!
In 2002, he recorded the first demo "Acceleration 420" and "Eso" EP with a band Esoteriqa next year. The newest material of German fell into my hands and I was very curious what the fuzz is all about. The listening was preceded by reading of the Berklee's faculty members' opinions (of Tom Stein, Joe Stump, Jon Finn) and one Shrapnel Records artist - Scott Johnson's. I must admit that I haven't read so unanimously super-positive opinions on artist's music for a long while! There is also a thesis existing that a teacher promotes own students, so one should keep the opinions of such a kind at distance. But, in that case, my "conservatism" was needless, because the words of mentioned people are crystally true! On "The Lightspeeder", German showed off his pure mastery - in shredding-power metalish "sauce" with a light progressive "flavors" and instrumental hard rock's "aftertastes". His music is full of solemnity and royal Majesty! Ladies and Gentlemen - one thousand perfect notes per minute and a whole world become dancing with German! His style consists of elements known from other instrumentalists' manners - of Tom Hess, Mike Walsh, Joe Stump, Luca Turilli, and Racer X.
There is no doubt that German Schauss is one of the most eminent shredder in the history of the genre! German's students are lucky chaps! Why? Firstly - he is a great guitarist. Secondly - creates as brilliant melodies as itself he is! And thirdly - as Tina Turner sang - he is simply the Best! Child prodigy! Magnificent! Long live German!
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