An idiotic old friend of mine purchased this record on picture disc. Not sure why I've included it, but will say that if you love instrumental records played with a bit of fire and innovation, then this may be for you. Guitar masturbation has never really been my thing, unless of course it's Jimmy Page digging out a riff for Mr Plant to strut to. In the case of Steve Vai, we are talking about a guy who gets all sexual with his instrument, to the point of almost conversing with it, and at once attempting make his guitar speak to its audience. Thankfully, Vai doesn't just opt for a Brian May pub work-out, although opener 'Liberty' could pass for anthemic tripe. Still strange to not hear a vocalist kick out the jams over some of the twiddling and shredding, in my opinion the rattling 'Erotic Nightmares' and sleazy strut of 'The Animal' desperately require a vocal sneer. It's a self-indulgent record where Vai takes us on a journey through his jazzy-funky-metallic-groovy and soulful talents, 'The Audience Is Listening' was actually a minor hit, but 'For The Love Of God' should be best avoided. A spiralling, nighttime drift into seas of boredom, and 'I Would Love To' sounds like some dreary Van Halen rehash. 'Passion & Warfare' appears in this blog simply to prove that there are metallers out there who go for this kind of proggy-wanking, but my advice is to stick to porn, and not musical copulation.
4/10
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