INVIOLATE

As one of the true living gods of guitar mastery, a new album by STEVE VAI is something many musicians anticipate with a sense of both awe and possible trepidation. The awe aspects are delivered by VAI's finger breaking guitar playing antics that catapulted him into the highest ranks of rock stardom with his stints with David Lee Roth and Whitesnake as well as his innovative art guitar displays of grandeur on albums like "Passion & Warfare" however the trepidation may result from VAI's inconsistency in his art form by often delivering some hilariously bad material with the guitar god believing his vocals are actually a pleasant thing to experience!

VAI has been quiet in the last decade after the release of 2012's rather dreamy lightweight "The Story Of Light" which featured recycled ideas packaged without flashy guitar solos. The "Modern Primitive" archival material was released in 2017 but all in all VAI hasn't released any new material of substance since 2005's "Real Illusions: Reflections." The guitar master is back in 2022 with his tenth studio album INVIOLATE which immediately upon admiring the album cover clearly showcases that VAI is back to his guitar shredding duties as rock god with his wickedly wild new Hydra guitar. As far as a 62 year old rock god is concerned, INVIOLATE does not feature a what may be perceived as a has been but rather a veritable talent still seemingly in a perpetual prime.

In the modern era, STEVE VAI is mostly revered by nerdy guitar stalwarts who worship him like the sun god in some ancient Egyptian setting. His perfectionist attention to detail that envelops every composition laced with modern production techniques replete with visual glitz and glamor holds his place in the pantheons of rock guitar royalty and with INVIOLATE this maestro retains his lofty perch with grace. While still chock filled with face melting guitar solos and blitzkrieg guitar chops, VAI has refined his extroverted flashiness by drifting into the world of instrumental jazz-fusion therefore INVIOLATE is much more akin to classic albums by Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin or Al Di Meola rather than VAI's back catalogue of raucous metal and art rock rampage.

INVIOLATE is a sensual mastery of jazz-laced rockers that happen to feature VAI taking things to extremes. Unlike most of VAI's back catalogue that became muddied with substandard vocal tracks, this album is blissfully and exclusively instrumental with nary a vocal track to be found which allows a smooth entire album's worthy of heavy guitar edge in the context of progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion. On board are VAI's classic guitar wails and warm tones that are as distinct as his playing style. As a virtuoso producer INVIOLATE matches the quality of many of VAI's best offerings including his masterwork "Passion & Warfare." The album wisely clocks in at a classic album's running time of just shy of 47 minutes with nine beautifully crafted tracks that alternate between dreamy atmospheric escapism and jaw dropping guitar god admiration.

With the virtuosic guitar wankery toned down, INVIOLATE comes off as one of VAI's most balanced albums which maintains a unified vibe for its entire run. Tracks such as "Teeth Of The Hydra" and "Zeus In Chains" showcase VAI's newest mastery of transmogrifying his classic tone-rich stylistic approach into a bonafide jazz-fusion classic. With so much time out of the public's eye, it seems STEVE VAI had something to prove to the world and that was that he could still crank out an album like the best of them and despite all the changes in the world of heavy metal, rock and modern jazz, VAI effortlessly delivers a timeless sounding album's worth of instant classics. While guitar shredders may be disappointed by the lack of youthful energy on display, VAI more than makes up for its absent with beautifully crafted compositions that tug emotional heart strings but all is not lost for there are indeed select moments of guitar gymnastics that clearly signify that VAI remains a force to be reckoned with. Excellent album!

Inviolate is Vai's 10th studio album, released six years after his last. With the bit of the interview that he had done with Terry Bozzio (Terry interviewing) that I had seen on Drum Channel, the thing most of note here to me is that this is a now-classic example of a COVID-19-era album. It is marked noticeably by the revolving cast of musicians that Steve had hired from track to track. He suggested that this gave him a bit of freedom (and it was apparently the first time in which he couldn't meddle, so to speak, or I believe he said "ruin" the tracks haha). He was free in his decreased involvement compared to years past. In this though, he would think about the song at hand and could easily think of a drummer for each. In addition to performing alongside other guitar wizards, Jeremy Colson, the drummer most featured here, has played with Vai since at least 2005. Then it was two other Zappa alums, Terry and the (also) exceptionally great Vinnie Colaiuta, who were divvied up [a remaining?] 3 songs. It was clear to Steve that in those cases, he suggests, Terry and Vinnie were his guys. Very cool. Now, onto the album [after avoiding it for a good two weeks on account of a lack of concentration or proper time...]!

"Teeth of the Hydra" is our opener, and it's... all Steve Vai? Sorta spacy Fusion with intricate programmed(?) drums and booming, soaring instrumentation. That is, it soars whenever it's not just hanging in air. There's a sort of ominous energy here. Sort of dark and yet sort of optimistic in tone: like an intense battle with the Hydra? I think there were a lot of good ideas here, but overall, a fairly static track compositionally. Up next is his fourth and currently final single for the album, "Zeus in Chains"; it's a lot more bombastic, a lot more confident than the opener. I guess this is Steve on bass here? It sounds really good: super melodic, intricate and that perfect, slinky sound. The middle section is very much virtuoso Guitar Fusion territory. Really tasteful, swinging playing. It's Stevie, alright! Then it's an unsurprisingly blazing solo. Pretty cool quirk in the main theme, as it cuts out and jumps back in.

Then it's onto "Little Pretty", with a feature of the great bassist Bryan Beller (Aristocrats, Mike Keneally/Beer for Dolphins, Joe Satriani). And this is quite pretty. It has a very familiar sort of tension that we can come to expect from Steve. This has little flairs of what sound like Eastern inflection in addition to Technical Metal. Oooh the solo in this middle section... Very nice. A lotta great whammy play. And up next, I was readied accordingly by his interview with Terry for this one: "Candlepower". This has a ton of quirk and unique flair captured by Vai's and Bozzio's equaled talents. Steve's guitar has a really interesting sort of twang to it. Don't miss this one. And then, we continue on in a similar sort of feeling, but brightened to really beautiful, truly wonderful extremes on the first Vinnie feature, "Apollo In Color".... And Wow, does Vinnie ever shine on this one. Another exemplary match. Made in heaven. Wow, the different textures Steve chose for this one, too, are just marvelous. Frisson country, baby! Don't miss this one! The absolute best thus far. And there's already been a lot of "great". [This is the highlight, I would like to point out.]

Up next, into our second half, "Avalancha"! Very interesting. This honestly reminds me of the damn 'Adventure Metal' [whatever, Chris...] of modern Prog Metal beloveds Scale The Summit [I've been thinking since, that I should really give their early material another go, in the least]. Big, if not expansive. After the last few, this is honestly kind of boring [then again... I did already make that Scale comparison... Don't hate me haha]. Pretty cool, Morello-esque solo though. Oh! This is Billy Sheehan's feature! I had totally forgotten. I mean, listen, it's not bad. Sorry, Billy? Up next, we have a massive stylistic and tonal shift on "Greenish Blues". Blues indeed. Really lovely at times, but reminiscent (to a fault) of his former boss Zappa's bloated soloing excursions. And this is coming from me, unironically the biggest fan of Zappa I know haha.

Finally in the backend, we have a very fun one in "Knappsack". I mean, this is how you do heavy, in my opinion. It does have a sort of older Metal approach, which I appreciate, but I also acknowledge maybe it's Stevie showing his age. This middle section? Boy, that's fun. Wild stuff. Really exciting, honestly. And finally, our second Vinnie feature, "Sandman Cloud Mist", to finish out our album (and a really good one at that). Now, with this one, we are back in the slower and more feeling side of Steve Vai. Very classic. Now, there's nothing mind-blowing here. But I ain't gon' say no. Again, a great album. Definitely give it a spin. Maybe two (I mean, I won't haha, but I'm also insane and must move on).

Impressive axe play, as always, with top notch support, song by song, from one of the all-time masters of la guitare électrique.

1. "Teeth of the Hydra" (5:13) This one might go to eleven. Definitely a top three song. Just great, powerful guitar notes (& chords!). A purely great song. In fact, this is my favorite song of 2022 (so far). (10/10)

2. "Zeus in Chains" (4:39) Impressive guitar and bass over so-so music. (8.5/10)

3. "Little Pretty" (6:26) a little bluesier. Some nice melody lines and bass drum "fills." Gets better as it goes. Kind of classic J-R fusion á la Al DI, JEAN-LUC, and ALLAN H. (8.75/10)

4. "Candle Power" (3:31) JAN AKKERMAN guitar play taken to another level! Man do I hear the Dutch Master in every note! (8.75/10)

5. "Apollo in Color" (4:19) nice song in which the awesome bass and drums are allowed some shine. You go, Henrik! You awesome, Vinnie! Also love the rhythm guitar (& banjo?) work. (9/10)

6. "Avalancha" (5:10) a heavy one. Jerry Colson and Steve in a race or machine gun fight. And they really send it crashing down! A top three song for me--and I don't even like metal! (9.5/10)

7. "Greenish Blues" (6:07) pure blues. Such amazing guitar sound, smooth touch, and timing. Almost makes Jeff Beck look like he's fumbling and flailing. Cool twang-bar and wah-pedal ministrations. Reminds me a lot of Jeff's "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers." only the 12.0 version. A master showing his mastery. If you ever want to play one guitar song to show the potential of guitar and the possibilities allowed by the blues, please use this one! My final top three song--and I'm not really a fan of the blues! (10/10)

8. "Knappsack" (5:19) just watching the video accompanying this song on YouTube gives you some insight into the magic that the electric guitar offers--as well as the pyrotechnical skill of one of the world's greatest masters of that instrument. I love the feeling in the final minute of blues. Am I watching a tutorial for the future of electric guitar play: "The One-Handed Method"? (8.75/10)

9. "Sandman Cloud Mist" (6:01) Steve's steady music and melody play allow Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Philip Bynoe to really show their skills. Incredible patch of guitar wizardry from about 4:40 to 5:20! (8.75/10)

Total Time 46:45

This is one awesome collection of songs from a veteran who knows what he wants and has all the skills (and friends) to pull it off. Steve Vai. in all his glory, has enough self-confidence and grace to allow his collaborators to really shine. Mega kudos, Señor Steve! I'd love to see you collaborate with Antoine Fafard!

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of guitar wizardry as composed, performed, and produced by one of the all-time masters (if not THE all-time master) of the electric guitar.