Steve Morse Band 'Triangulation' album review: Guitar legend makes a virtuoso album that's a mix of technical brilliance, heart and humanity

It's been over a decade since Steve Morse and his powerhouse band released new music. After leaving Deep Purple in 2022, and following the sad passing of his wife, Janine, it was time to focus on writing music once more: his music. The music that makes Steve Morse tick. But forget any ideas that this would be a straightforward rock album; this is an album for guitar aficionados.

'Triangulation' is a wild ride through the mind of a musician who’s been around long enough to have mastered just about every genre under the sun, but never content to stay in one lane - even when he's pushed to. Morse’s ability to weave together jazz, rock, blues, and classical influences into a single track is second to none. If there was ever a doubt that Steve Morse is one of the best guitarists on the planet, 'Triangulation' puts that conversation to bed, once and for all.

The opening track, 'Break Through', jumps straight out of the stereo with a bold rock riff followed by Dave LaRue’s bass, which shares the spotlight throughout the record. This is a band album, not just a guitar show-off session. Yes, Morse is a virtuoso, but there's no ego to his fretwork - despite years of playing with one of the biggest rock bands. It's clear from the start that Morse, bassist Dave LaRue, and drummer Van Romaine are in perfect step, bounding off each other with envious elegance and precision. The trio has been playing together for years, and the chemistry on this album is off the charts. Their sync is so tight it’s like they’re reading each other’s minds. Each track feels like it was born out of jam sessions where ideas flowed freely and the magic just happened - 'Off The Cuff' encapsulates this freeform style, that's just overflowing with technical wizardry and old-school jazz grooves that Jeff Beck or Larry Carlton would approve of.

The real fun comes in the album's shape shifting. 'TexUS', which features the legendary Eric Johnson is a soaring dual guitar showcase. The appropriately named 'The Unexpected' plays into Morse's love of the cinematic and classical. Then there’s the title track, Triangulation, where John Petrucci brings the thunder, and the heavy prog-metal riffing takes you to another dimension. Album closer 'Taken by an Angel', a beautiful, heartbreaking tribute to Steve’s late wife, with their son Kevin on guitar.

The album’s not all emotional depth, though. 'Tumeni Partz' (the follow-up to one of Morse’s most beloved tracks, 'Tumeni Notes') is a playful, intricate labyrinth of riffs that will make your head spin. He doesn’t just play guitar; he makes the instrument bend to his will, mixing styles like a chef throwing ingredients into a pot and somehow creating something that feels totally new. To match that, Dave LaRue's bass just sings as it makes a counterpoint to Morse's melody lines. He darts around the fret board, constructing aurally pleasing and clever bass lines that underpin everything that Morse does.

If you’re a fan of guitar virtuosity, 'Triangulation' is everything you’ve been waiting for. If you’re new to Steve Morse, this album will make you a fan. It’s a dazzling mix of technical brilliance, heart, and humanity and proof that, after all these years, Steve Morse is still one of the best in the game.