Joe Bonamassa 'Breakthrough' album review: Smokin' Joe takes a hammer and knocks down some walls as he changes direction with his new album

“Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls” growls Joe Bonamassa on the opening of his 17^th solo album. 'Breakthrough' quite literally takes that tool and smashes the cool, suave precision of Smokin' Joe's previous output and knocks it into a different ballpark.

The album is filled with his trademark well-crafted solos. It's got more in common with his Black Country Communion side project in terms of tone and style. There's the odd diversion with the upbeat 80s influenced toe tapper 'Drive by the Exit Sign', but this is an album that prides itself on strong songwriting and is packed with heavier and darker blues vibes.

'Broken Record', the album's opus, takes on a sombre Pink Floyd feel in terms of simplicity and guttural guitar solo. 'Shake the Ground' is the calm after the storm, with an uplifiting pop backing vocals and the return of the mandolin, which is always used to great effect on a JB album such as the 'Black Rock' album from 2010 where Bonamassa put a stomping 12 bar blues alongside folk and roots music and Royal Tea's country inspired 'Savannah'.

The slick production you'd expect from a Kevin Shirley/Joe Bonamassa collab is front and centre, once again delivered with near surgical precision: this isn't visceral, bleeding blues, it's technically brilliant artistry – and that's the great thing about the blues genre, there's a place for both.

The guitars are clean and loud. There's a sense of urgency to the solos reminiscent of the early 'Sloe Gin' days, but it's tempered by maturity. Reese Wynans' keys are a solid underscore of the tracks that get the occasional breakout, but it's always a pure joy when they do.

'Don't tell me how to play the blues, ' Joe opines on 'You Don't Own Me', becomes a career-defining statement of intent from a man who has released 50 albums, which borders on oversaturation. But you can only admire a man whose output is of a consistent standard that sometimes takes you by surprise. This is an exciting Bonamassa album because it's a little bit unexpected. The horns and brass production has gone, and a little bit of introspective storytelling is in.

'Breakthrough' certainly ranks as one of his best albums. Not only does his songwriting stand out, but he steps out of the box a bit more. He's not leaning on well-worn riffs and hiding behind walls of sound (not that he needed to). It's far from raw, unflinching blues, but this darker production certainly demands your attention.