Hackett, Steve & Rothery, Steve: The Roaring Waves

Progressive Rock guitar legends Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery have teased us long enough; they’ve finally released an album of original material. Seven instrumental tracks inspired by the profundity of the sea according to the Bandcamp page. The duo has been writing and recording intermittently over the last decade, and the music emerged from jams and ideas the two shared.

After multiple listens, it is an enjoyable experience hearing their beautiful guitar tones soar over the atmospheric backing music. The music is nice, but I don’t find it impactful. Nice is not necessarily what one wants when it comes to music, you want to be moved, get chills, that’s the desired reaction. I’m not finding that the songs or melodies stick with me once the album is finished. Great solos need great songs, and I don’t hear anything that touches me like that ending solo in Every Day (from Hackett’s Spectral Mornings album) or Rothery’s tasteful playing in the Marillion classic “Sugar Mice�.

It’s great to hear Hackett and Rothery together, but maybe I set my expectations a bit too high. The album could use more dynamics, the slow to mid-tempo pace of most of the tracks would have been complimented by a heavier track or two.

Favorite Tracks: Sandsend, The Roaring Waves, The Black Sea

Track Listing
1. The Storm
2. Sandsend
3. Red Dragon
4. The Roaring Waves
5. K-129
6. The Black Sea
7. Pacific Coast Highway

Added: August 31st 2026
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: The Roaring Waves @ Inside Out's bandcamp
Hits: 19
Language: english

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