Power, love, passion and rhythm…
Reviewed by Alex Alicia Firth
Release date: 24 July 2015
Joe Satriani, the ultimate guitar master and shredder of the fretboard is here with his 15th solo studio album Shockwave Supernova. Utilising Friday’s ‘Global Release Day’ the legendary guitarist makes an impact proving to us why he is classed as one of the most commercially successful guitar performers of our time.
Throughout Shockwave Supernova, Satriani is able to tell stories without needing to think about lyrics. Five times out of ten, solo guitar albums become boring after about 3 or 4 songs in with no lyric for an audience member or listener to connect with. This certainly isn’t the case for this man’s album. Once again joining forces with co-producer and engineer John Cuniberti who has worked with Satriani on previous projects ensures that this album has a sense of history told through the greatest instrument in Rock N’ Roll music.
Taking a huge risk on a new particular style of storytelling and swaying away from the usual alter ego playing his fans know and love, Shockwave Supernova begins with the medium of animation. Listening through tracks such as ‘Lost in a Memory’, ‘All My life’ and ‘Goodbye Supernova’, Satriani brings four particular emotions to mind: power, love, passion and rhythm. Career-defining tunes from earlier Satriani albums never fail to leave a lasting impression on his work and this is the home truth with his 2015 product.
Ironically, the sci-fi theme that would sound as if it’s something ancient and old school actually works well with present music expectations and really does sound like its moving with the times. Something I personally feel is how an album should be created to define a new chapter in music and stand out among the rest. With so many amazing guitarists on the same scene at the moment from the likes of Joe Bonamassa to Carlos Santana, Satriani has created another masterpiece. It’s basically one long guitar solo with feeling and many hints of melodic tones that satisfies every Rock fans dream and it’s certainly a dream must-have for any Joe Satriani fan.
8 out of 10
Track Listing:
- Shockwave Supernova
- Lost In A Memory
- Crazy Joey
- In My Pocket
- On Peregrine Wings
- Cataclysmic
- San Francisco Blue
- Keep On Movin’
- All Of My Life
- A Phase I’m Going Through
- Scarborough Stomp
- Butterfly and Zebra
- If There Is No Heaven
- Stars Race Across The Sky
- Goodbye Supernova
