Steve Vai Announces New Album, Inviolate

Electric guitar wizard Steve Vai has announced his long-awaited, highly-anticipated 10th studio album.

Titled Inviolate, it's set for a January 28 release. It's Vai's first studio album since 2016’s Modern Primitive, and will feature the previously released singles "Candle Power" – which boasts the guitarist's radical, "joint shifting" technique – and "Knappsack."

The guitarist revealed the cover art, track list, and release date of Inviolate in a Facebook post that simply read "Yup, it’s ready. And it drops on January 28, 2022. It’s called Inviolate. Enjoy the ride."

Inviolate marks Vai's first full-length release since he underwent shoulder and trigger finger surgeries. The recuperation from the surgeries forced Vai to get somewhat creative with his playing and practicing, which he certainly did on "Knappsack," a tune he wrote, composed, and recorded with one hand.

Inviolate also happens to be the name of the massive US tour Vai is set to embark on in January. Joined by his long-time backing band – guitarist Dave Weiner, bassist Philip Bynoe, and drummer Jeremy Colson – the guitarist will criss-cross the United States from late January through early April, playing a staggering 54 shows in the process.

“A performer thrives on performing,” Vai said in his announcement of the tour. “It's been my life for the past 49 years, with the exception of the last two years, so we are chomping at the bit to get out there and play for people. A music concert has the ability to dissolve the many challenges we face, and celebrate one of the good things in life, live music.”

For more info on Inviolate and its accompanying tour, head on over to vai.com.

Steve Vai – Inviolate:

1. Teeth Of The Hydra
2. Zeus In Chains
3. Little Pretty
4. Candle Power
5. Apollo In Color
6. Avalancha
7. Greenish Blues
8. Knappsack
9. Sandman Cloud Mist