Review: Steve Hackett & Steve Rothery – The Roaring Waves
InsideOutMusic – August 28th, 2026
Reviewer – David Brighouse
This is the much-anticipated album from two of the most renowned guitarists in the prog rock genre – Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) and Steve Rothery (Marillion), over ten years from inception to final release, with recording having taking place periodically over the last eight years. It consists of 7 instrumental tracks loosely themed around the sea.
‘The Storm‘ opens the album, a wonderfully expressive track full of complimentary sound effects and the finely dextrous playing you would expect of the two protagonists, as the ‘storm’ builds and then finally recedes. ‘Sandsend‘ is a reference to a small fishing village near Whitby where Steve Rothery spent a lot of time in his childhood, a track designed to evoke nostalgia against a backdrop of rural idyll which is does superbly.
‘Red Dragon‘ was an ex-warship that became a trader for the East Indian Company and the track has a distinct eastern feel due to the use of sitar guitar by Mr Hackett, while Mr Rothery provides more direct melodic playing conjuring up images of far-off lands. Title track ‘The Roaring Waves‘ starts with acoustic guitar and one can imagine waves lightly lapping on a beach, but this doesn’t last for long as the sea becomes more restless, soaring guitars and repeating synth passages build the tension, until calm is eventually restored. ‘K-129‘ is a track inspired by the mysterious disappearance of a Soviet submarine in 1968, as we travel on the doomed vessel to its watery grave, the rhythmic backdrop skilfully created is punctuated by sonar blips until it concludes in a wall of sound.
With ‘The Black Sea‘ we are deep in the murky depths surrounded by strange creatures and shipwrecks, with a variety of instruments creating a melody that paints an impressionistic picture of this little know area of our world. Final track ‘Pacific Coast Highway‘ is a bit of a contrast to what has gone before, a cheerful bluesy track, a sunny day driving song, with Hackett playing harmonica, Rothery providing throbbing bass and the couple’s wives and Rothery’s children supplying backing vocals.
Given the time taken for the record to come to fruition it’s easy to understand the uniqueness of each track which together cover a multitude of stylings – Classical, Progressive, Ambient, Cinematic, but all beautifully constructed, executed and very atmospheric. A great album from two great players who obviously work well together and who’s playing complement each other to such outstanding effect.
Track List:
- The Storm (6:51)
- Sandsend (4:45)
- Red Dragon (4:18)
- The Roaring Waves (7:11)
- K-129 (7:53)
- The Black Sea (6:41)
- Pacific Coast Highway (7:33)
Line-up:
Steve Hackett – Guitars, Harmonica
Steve Rothery – Guitars
Riccardo Romano – Keyboards & Bass Guitar
Daniele Pomo – Drums (Tracks 1-4)
Leon Parr – Drums (Tracks 6 & 7)
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Steve Rothery Web Links:
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