Review | Bumblefoot – Bumblefoot…Returns!

Bumblefoot Music LLC

Get ready to embark on a sonic journey with the electrifying return to instrumental mastery of Bumblefoot! After 3 decades, guitar virtuoso Ron Thal breaks sonic boundaries with `Bumblefoot…Returns!’, a groundbreaking album defying musical genres and showcases unprecedented guitar innovation. This extraordinary new album brings together a constellation of guitar legends, including Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian, creating a collaborative masterpiece that pushes musical boundaries. `Bumblefoot…Returns!’ isn’t just an album – it’s a genre-bending odyssey spanning metal intensity, orchestral complexity, and blues soul.

THE REINVENTION OF PLAYING GUITAR

Bumblefoot doesn’t just play guitar; he reinvents it. Prepare to be amazed by his signature techniques like fretless guitar wizardry and the innovative ‘thimble technique’, going beyond the fretboard boundaries and extending musical possibilities beyond the guitar’s boundaries. This is more than an album; it’s a musical revolution that demonstrates why Bumblefoot remains one of the most innovative guitarists of his generation.

Hugely composed during the pandemic, it became a soundtrack to his life, as demonstrated on all-saying ,,Planetary Lockdown”, revealing moments of wideness, silence and intense musical solitude, suddenly erupting with tons of notes cooking up the atmosphere. Pitched with intense clarity, the fretboard wizardry elevates and ebbs constantly.

A HONKY-TONK THEME PARK

Almost effortless Bumblefoot switches stages and brings forward a burlesque honky-tonk theme park scenery with strumming acoustics and wonderful dry-toned drums. His insane guitar wizardry atop is astounding. The explorative character of the genius Thal is revealed midway when the song’s honky-tonk scenery is briefly abandoned to unleash the me(n)tal and it corks the mental state during those lock up days touching with the prohibition era of totalistic government control, while displaying the craziness of choices.

It perfectly pitches Ron’s creational mastery, and the song boasts into the insane rendition of Chopin’s classical piano piece ,,Waltz Op. 64 No. 2”. The imbued harmonious melancholy and eruptions of notes Thal fires with sniper-precision make the waltz a dazzling center piece for guitar aficionados and fans of genius guitarists pushing sonic and creative boundaries.

STEVE VAI AND BRIAN MAY

Speaking of genius players, Bumblefoot collaborates with Steve Vai on the daunting and piercing guitar exploration ,,Monstruoso”, as where Guthrie Govan lends his skills and talents on the slow paced and highly melodic / cinematic ,,Anveshana”. Both stand bold of musical wizardry and see Thal interact on different levels, matching the elaborate techniques of his ‘opponents’, creating a fluid cooperation highlighting the best of both worlds, while traversing respect in bold chops. It is impressive to feel the mutual respect radiating from the interplay, and Thal elevates it on the equally wonderful collaboration with Queen’s Brian May on ,,Once in Forever”.

The song evokes shivers with wonderful melodies loaded, it grips into the melodic cinematic discharge of May’s `Star Fleet Project’ with its stellar interplay and Brian and Ron focusing on wonderful multi-part harmonies and meticulously crafted structures, typical for May’s arrangements. Thal matches the right composition to the collaboration of his guests.

Bringing a different tone to the plate, Thal introduces violinist Ben Karas on the gloomy dark ,,Funeral March”. Tastefully crafted, the melancholy injected by Karas’ introvert playing is countered with Ron’s impressive fretless playing, extending tone and creating a harmonies gloomy waltz alike Saint-Saëns’ symphonic poetic ,,Dance Macabre”.

THE ABSOLUTE CENTERPIECE

Further exploring the sound spheres of ,,Monstruoso”, Thal’s enigmatic track gets a short sequel where goes less deep into the experimental zone rather focusing on the rich textural tapestry enhanced by his thimble and fretless playing in both directions fusing tits melody with an offload of sonic innovation.

An absolute centerpiece is the opening ,,Simon in Space” showcasing Thal’s extraordinary talents blending musical structures with sick groove and heavy metal tenure. Its heavy progressive opening is a blistering tsunami launching the song to its intense melodies, where Bumblefoot mixes ethereal with tempo and mood changes constantly. Here his skills on the fretless guitar light the sonic specter. There’s a NASA-like feeling of echoing cosmic harmonies of data translated into sound, which Thal manages to convey amidst the thumping jazzy drum and bass. When he delves into the solos they are as intense as they are serene. Zappa-esque polyrhythms thrown in, the track is a marveling concoction of emotions.

A TOUR-DE-FORCE

I was totally taken by the scenic visions conveyed, which Thal also does on the wonderful ,,Griggstown Crossing”, that feels like a modernized version of Hendrix’ ,,Crosstown Traffic” mixed up with some of the segments from the duel in the 80s movie `Crossroads’. Overthrowing it with impressive melodies, licks and hooks, Thal embeds his signature tone and style creating his own tour-de-force, the fluently ‘slow dances’ into the marvel, ,,The Thread”. Borrowing the timid wonder from Vai’s ,,For the Love of God” (‘Passion and Warfare’) and construction another weeping guitar classic loaded with freckling wizardry gently landing in the melodies. Simply breathtaking and enigmatic!

Songs like the wonderful ‘bumblebee’ playing ,,Cintaku”, the colorful holiday reviving short ,,Andalusia”, and the closing ,,Liftoff” are typical Thal, delving deeper than ever and boggling the mind of players and listeners. They boast wonderful sonic appeal and evoke visions and scenes while tapping into the most technical sides of playing. It all seems to transcend on spiritual levels, tapping into the universal vibrational frequencies.

Sheer genius!

BUMBLEFOOT – THE CONCLUSION

Mark your calendars for January 24, as instrumental (guitar) music will never sound the same again! `Bumblefoot…Returns!’ promises to be a landmark release celebrating thirty years of musical evolution, technical mastery, unbridled creative passion, and unparalleled sonic innovation from one of the best and most beloved players in the field.

It is enjoyable for purists and will boggle the mind of many. Guitarists will either be stunned and stung, lured into the creative aspects to also explore the realms, or they will decide to use their favorite and cherished instrument as decorative wall pieces for the rest of their lives.

Release date: 24 January 2025