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Bumblefoot:...Returns!
 Renowned guitarist Ron Thal, better known as Bumblefoot is back with 14 instrumental tracks featuring guests Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan and Derek Sherinian. This is his first fully instrumental solo release in 30 years since his Shrapnel debut Adventures of Bumblefoot. Besides his solo work, Bumblefoot’s resume includes stints with Guns N’ Roses, Sons of Apollo, Asia and as a current member of Whom Gods Destroy.
A monstrously heavy riff opens “Simon in Space” as Thal provides atmospheric playing over the top. As a guitarist, just listening to Bumblefoot’s playing is jaw-dropping, blending lightning-fast licks, atmosphere, sound effects and melody into this 8-minute album opener. I like the variation of styles, check out the country finger-picking and slide during “Moonshine Hootenanny” which morphs into a heavy guitar-laden smoker! For the classical buffs, “Chopin Waltz Op64 No.2” should satisfy, a little wah-wah and Chopin never hurt anyone! But man, his playing is so tight; those guitar runs are mind-blowing. Steve Vai lends his talents to another heavy track “Monstruoso”. Brian May takes a turn in “Once in Forever” and you will hear those layered guitar you expect, and the track also features Jerry Gaskill (King’s X) on drums and keyboardist extraordinaire Derek Sherinian. This one has a melody that sounds so familiar. Guthrie Govan and Bumblefoot go off in “Anveshana”, from a purely guitar-playing perspective, this might be my favorite
track on the album along with “The Thread”. “Griggstown Crossing” has a classic rock feel to it, and the closer is a dazzling display of Bumblefoot’s mastery of the instrument.
…Returns is a solid album of instrumental guitar-based music, the songs staying with me the more I listen. It takes time for the melodies to stick for instrumental music, so repeat listens is a must, and I expect to be playing this one quite often.
Track List:
1. Simon in Space
2. Planetary Lockdown
3. Moonshine Hootenanny
4. Chopin Waltz Op64 No.2
5. Monstruoso (feat. Steve Vai)
6. Monstruoso II (Departure)
7. Cintaku
8. Once in Forever (feat. Brian May
9. Andalusia
10. Anveshana (feat. Guthrie Govan)
11. Funeral March (feat. Ben Karas)
12. Griggstown Crossing
13. The Thread
14. Liftoff
Added: February 9th 2025
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:  
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 342
Language: english
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Bumblefoot:...Returns!
Posted by Aaron Steelman, SoT Staff Writer on 2025-02-19 16:34:08
My Score:
Although I have been a fan of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal’s work with Sons of Apollo and Whom Gods Destroy I had never heard a solo album from him before this one, Bumblefoot … Returns! I think I started in the right place.
The album is all instrumental and contains a lot of music, both in sheer volume (14 tracks that clock in at an hour altogether) and the number of styles. In general, I find the first half of the album to be quite a bit heavier than the second half, with some tracks, such as “Monstruoso” featuring Steve Vai, being almost metallic. Others, such as the closer, “Liftoff,” are atmospheric. You get an acoustic classical tune with the brief “Andalusia.” “Once in Forever” features Brian May and is pretty bluesy. Guthrie Govan makes an appearance on the groove-laden “Anveshana.” And some tracks, including the eight-minute opener, “Simon in Space,” give you just about everything.
My favorite song is “Funeral March.” That probably puts me in a distinct minority. But it features beautiful acoustic and electric work by Bumblefoot and some extraordinary violin by Ben Karas of Thank You Scientist. The only track that is a skip for me is the country-oriented “Moonshine Hootenanny.”
Bumblefoot can play fast, no doubt about that. But unlike some, he doesn’t seem to do so just for the sake of doing it. At least not on this album. I guess I will find out about past ventures as I eagerly delve into his back catalog.
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