Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery
The Roaring Waves

Release Date: 08/28/2026 | Tracklist

“The Roaring Waves” is an album of Hackett & Rothery. The line up on the album is Steve Hackett, Steve Rothery, Riccardo Romano, Daniele Pomo and Leon Parr.


“The Roaring Waves” is a collaborative album by two influential names in the European prog scene, Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery. As we know, Hackett was the main guitarist of Genesis and Rothery is the guitarist of Marillion. As we also know, Marillion was the band most close to Genesis of all British prog bands that appeared in the 80’s. So, we can say that Rothery is, somehow, the heir of Hackett on guitars. So, we can not be surprised by this collaborative effort.

Although the initial idea emerged around 2015, “The Roaring Waves” took nearly a decade to be written and recorded. The sessions were split between the Racket Club (Marillion’s studio) and the home studios of both musicians. The strong connection between both solidified on stage when Rothery joined Hackett at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024 to play “Fly On A Windshield”, one of the most famous tracks of the album “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” by Genesis.

So, “The Roaring Waves” is the first instrumental collaborative project between two of the most iconic guitarists in the progressive rock. The album is a profoundly cinematic, atmospheric and a melodic work, entirely inspired by the power, mysteries and nuances of the sea, beautifully paced conversation between two master guitarists. Instead of a flashy “speed trial” or shred-fest competition, the album prioritizes compositional patience, atmospheric depth, and melodic trade-offs. Hackett’s angular, classical-tinged and experimental approach, merges seamlessly with Rothery’s emotional soaring sustain. Having decided to completely forgo vocals and lyrics, the album gives the listener a true complete imaginative freedom through textures that blend progressive rock, classical music, ambient and electronic textures.

“The Storm” is the dramatic opening of the album. It begins by placing the listener in the midst of a storm, with the guitars intertwining to create the tension and force of a storm at sea. This is a beautiful, wild and cinematic piece that delights the listener, a track that serves more as an introduction to the album than in a particularly loud announcement. “Sandsend” is a more restful and contemplative track, where the tension eases, evoking a sense of isolation, a cool beauty and serene atmospheres. It veers a measured rhythm, toward elegant and melancholic atmospheres reminiscent of Pink Floyd, letting the guitars literally sing in unison. At under five minutes, the track is correspondingly compact. “Red Dragon” is the shortest track on the album where Hackett introduces the sitar guitar to give the composition a mystical and an oriental sound. It brings a touch of world music to the otherwise rather watertight soundscape with folkloric influences, bagpipes and sitar sounds. This is a more playful and less polished piece than its predecessors. The title track “The Roaring Waves” is probably the most compelling moment on the album. It begins with a beautiful flourish of classical guitar by Hackett. It’s one of the album’s highlights, the real swell. Slowly, the swelling dynamics, guitars giving each other space, and precisely that blend of melancholy and pathos for both Steves, a real classic prog moment. “K-129” is one of the most experimental and intriguing tracks on the album. Electronic soundscapes and dark guitars create a very own feeling. Once again, this rhythmic framework is layered over the two guitarists in a largely improvisational style. It stands out paying homage to the “Kosmische Musik” and the Berlin School of the 70’s. It reminds me of “Gento”, by Bisocope of last year, the project of Rothery and Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream. For me, it’s one of the strongest tracks on the album. “The Black Sea”, described by the authors as a dark adventure, was chosen as the lead single of the album. It’s one of the album’s great melancholic beauties. Rothery’s warm guitar meets Hackett’s finely crafted timbres. This is precisely where it becomes clear why this collaboration makes any sense at all. “Pacific Coast Highway” departs from the gray and icy atmosphere of the previous tracks, an unexpected track. Here, the music gains rhythm and movement with Hackett playing harmonica and slide guitar, evoking a high-speed car trip along the sunny California coast. It’s a lighthearted, road-movie-esque jam with plenty of vocals at the end of it.


Conclusion: “The Roaring Waves” is a dialogue between two musicians who respect and listen to each other, and who have acquired the wisdom of guitarists who have nothing left to prove. It’s, therefore, a mature, profound and extremely refined work. “The Roaring Waves” remains above all an album on which two guitarists thankfully dedicate themselves not to themselves, but to the respective piece and its shared concept. Hackett and Rothery harmonize superbly with each other, instead of getting lost in an endless competition for the more spectacular solo. Compared with the album “GTR” of Hackettt and Howe, this is a much better work. I know, those were the 80’s. But I don’t know if it’s an excuse.


Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)

Tweet

Recent reviews by this author
Marillion Script For A Jester's Tear	Anthony Phillips 1984
Tony Banks The Fugitive	Steve Hackett Spectral Mornings
Steve Hackett The Tokyo Tapes	Area 1978 Gli dei se ne Vanno

user ratings (3)

rate it Awful - 1 Very Poor - 1.5 Poor - 2 Average - 2.5 Good - 3 Great - 3.5 Excellent - 4 Superb - 4.5 Classic - 5

3.8 excellent