INVIOLATE

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).