Joe Satriani Unleashes Squares

As we’re baking away in the summer heat, new albums continue to be released, perhaps at a slower pace than previous months, but here are some of today’s releases that may interest you.

Squares – Squares

Before there was a Joe Satriani EP, or Not Of This Earth, there was Squares, it was a band that Satriani had formed in the late 70s, that mashed up hard rock, and new wave. Think Missing Persons with a male singer, and a harder edge, or a heavier version of The Police even.

Satch has millions of fans and guitarists that he’s influenced all over the world, and this is a look back into what he did early on. If you’re looking for his signature sound that he developed over the years, well you’ll find his playing, but it isn’t as unhinged as what you’ve come to know from his solo work. This is more subdued because it needs to work within the framework of a band.

This is a must-have for any fan of Satriani’s work.

Billy Sherwood – Citizen: In The Next Life

The Yes bassist is back with his second album in the Citizen series, the first since 2015. For those that don’t know, he was handpicked by the legendary Chris Squire as his replacement and has been in and out of Yes, and bands that contain members of the Yes family tree for years.

To be selected by one of the most important rock bass players of all time is nothing to sneeze at. If you know Billy, or are a big prog rock fan, this should be right up your alley.

Torche – Admission

Torche is a band that fifteen years ago was grouped in with Stoner bands like The Sword, and has continuously evolved over the years. Case in point, check out the video for the track “Admission” that sounds more like a mix between Helmet, CKY, and The Psychedelic Furs, than anything that remotely sounds like Sabbath.

Although they may not have received the same press as some other bands that came out at around the same time, Torche has continued to do things their way, further cementing their legacy as a great band.

Here are some other releases that come out today.

Elder – The Gold & Silver Sessions

The Dollyrots – Daydream Explosion

Hollow Haze – Between Wild Landscapes And Deep Blue Seas

Batushka – Hospodi

Visionatica – Enigma Fire

Theatre Of Tragedy – Remixed

Alexisonfire – Complicit 7″

Alien Weaponry – Ahi Ka 7″

Graham Bonnet Band – Live In Tokyo 2017 DVD/CD

Foreigner – Live At the Rainbow ’78

Black Label Society – Live At Dynamo Open Aire 1999

Apocalyptica – Live at Dynamo Open Air 1999

Suicide Silence – Live And Mental

Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast.  Connect with him on Twitter:  @vmr907