Joe Bonamassa – Breakthrough
J&R Adventures – 2025
10 tracks: 46 minutes
Joe Bonamassa is one of those blues artists who is as relentless as he is talented. Touring nearly nonstop and seemingly everywhere, Bonamassa has amassed a huge following and slayed many professional dragons. If you’ve never caught Bonamassa live, you are truly missing out, and his latest album, Breakthrough, solidifies Bonamassa as his self-described Blues Titan.
As most blues fans know, Bonamassa has been rocking the blues for a long, long time. According to the online bios, Bonamassa started his career at age twelve, opening for B.B. King. He’s been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including three Grammy Award nominations and thirteen Blues Music Award (BMA) nominations with four BMA wins.
Breakthrough showcases Bonamassa’s maturity as a musician and songwriter, and his willingness to meld his unique style—which emphasizes guitar grit, just the right amount of intensity, and a polished smooth delivery—with various genres and subgenres of blues, rock, soul, and even a little country.
Longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley has production and mixing credits in addition to co-songwriting credits. Shirley may be best known for his two decades-long work with English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Other noted contributors on Breakthrough are keyboardist Reese Wynans and second guitarist Josh Smith.
The album’s title track (“Breakthrough”) is a rockin’ funky strong start with great keyboard lines and Bonamassa’s signature guitar riffs. “Trigger Finger,” released as a single, is another high energy blues rocker with a terrific backbeat and a signature refrain, When one door slams, somebody leaves…When one door slams, baby, I’m free.
“Drive By The Exit Sign” with its smooth guitar slide has a funky country-ish beat that’ll get toes tapping and hips swinging. That high energy, rockin’ groove continues with “Still Walking With Me” highlighted by Bonamassa’s guitar and terrific piano by Wynans. Kevin Shirley’s influence is all over “You Don’t Own Me,” a metal-fast anthem, once again, featuring Wynans dynamite piano.
“Pain’s On Me,” is a great bridge between those high energy numbers and several of the album’s slower, more soulful blues tunes. “Life After Dark” has all the ingredients that make for a classic Joe Bonamassa song: gritty vocals, soaring guitar riffs, and pounding beat. Texas swing-infused “I’ll Take The Blame” also features a pounding backbeat and intricate solo work by Bonamassa. “Shake This Ground” shakes things up with its soulful Latin-styled opening guitar and South Florida sultriness.
Breakthrough is yet another masterwork from Joe Bonamassa, a true “blues titan” whose talent and relentlessness make keeping the blues alive possible now and for future generations of music lovers.
